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Record-breaking Van Schalkwyk stars in series finale for SA U19s

football22 July 2025 17:50
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Jorich van Schalkwyk © Cricket South Africa

Opener Jorich van Schalkwyk broke the record for the highest-ever individual score by a South Africa Under-19 (SA U19) player with his unbeaten 164 helping secure victory in the final game of their three-match Youth one-day international (YODI) Series against Bangladesh in Benoni on Tuesday.

The right-hander carried his bat in an electrifying 156-ball innings, which included 14 fours and fours sixes, to almost single-handedly lift the hosts to a 14-run consolatory win on the DLS Method after bad light brought a premature end to the contest at Willowmoore Park.

Van Schalkwyk’s exploits broke a record that had stood for 25 years as he toppled former Proteas batter Jacques Rudolph's 156* against Nepal in 2000.

The result also meant that the SA U19s at least managed to avoid a third straight loss and end the series strongly, despite going down 2-1 overall.

Victory in the third YODI was built around Van Schalkwyk, but there were good performances too from co-captain Muhammad Bulbulia after he recorded another half-century – his 62 off 67 balls (5 fours) forging a telling 181-run second wicket partnership with the centurion.

Then with the ball, Ntando Soni returned a Player of the Match six-wicket haul, though the tourists still managed to set an imposing 320-9, the highest score of the series to date.

Bangladesh, big winners in the opening two games that secured for them the series, won the toss and batted first, the third time they had done so in as many games.

Their top three were pivotal to the big total with half-centuries for Zawad Abrar (68 off 58 balls, 6 fours, 5 sixes), Rifat Beg (86 off 107 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes) and Kalam Siddiki Aleen (85 off 78 balls, 12 fours, 1 six).

Barring Soni’s 6-65 in 10 overs, almost all the other bowlers struggled leaving the home batters with a big task on their hands.

And their problems deepened with the early loss of Adnaan Lagadien for only 10 in the third over.

But that brought in skipper Bulbulia, and together with Van Schalkwyk, the pair rebuilt excellently, not just with a rapid scoring rate, but by also keeping their wickets intact.

The stand eventually came to an end in the 32nd over, leaving the score on 201 for two and SA needing 121.

Jason Rowles, the other man with leadership responsibility for the home side, was next to go three overs later for five, opening the door further for the Bangladeshis.

But all hope was then firmly shut out thanks to Vihan Pretorius (18*) and Van Schalkwyk, who ensured there was no further damage as they paired together to add an unbroken 62 for the next wicket when the weather intervened.

With the South Africans ahead on DLS, that was enough to earn them the win after the inclement weather meant the match was halted with a little over five overs still to go and the home side ending on 277 for three.

That helped them finish the series on a high.

Both teams will travel to Zimbabwe on Wednesday for a YODI tri-series starting on Friday, 25 July at the Sunrise Sports Club in Harare.

SA U19 MEN'S SQUAD (Youth ODI series against Bangladesh U19)

Muhammad Bulbulia (captain, KZN Inland), Jason Rowles (captain, Lions), JJ Basson (Lions), Corne Botha (Lions), Daniel Bosman (Western Province), Paul James (Western Province), Enathi Khitshini (Garden Route Badgers), Adnaan Lagadien (Western Province), Bandile Mbatha (Dolphins), Armaan Manack (Lions), Bayanda Majola (Dolphins), Kamogelo Phiri (Lions), Vihan Pretorius (Titans), Ntando Soni (Warriors) and Jorich van Schalkwyk (Titans).

MANAGEMENT

Malibongwe Maketa (Head Coach), Blanche Conradie (Manager), Imraan Khan (Batting Coach), Paul Adams (Bowling Coach), Thabang Kumalo (Fielding Coach), Tumi Masekela (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Sheenagh Jordaan (Physiotherapist), Kyle Southgate (Team Analyst), Eugene Oppelt (Performance Psychologist) and Lita Gqirana (Media Manager).

RESULTS

1st YODI - Thursday, 17 July

South Africa U19 lost to Bangladesh U19 by 130 runs – Willowmoore Park, Benoni

2nd YODI - Saturday, 19 July

South Africa U19 lost to Bangladesh U19 by 104 runs - Willowmoore Park, Benoni

3rd YODI - Tuesday, 22 July

South Africa U19 beat Bangladesh U19 by 14 runs (DLS Method) - Willowmoore Park, Benoni

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