Junior Proteas fall short against India U19 at Willowmoore Park

The rain-affected match ended with the Junior Proteas on 148/4, with talisman Jorich van Schalkwyk unbeaten on 60.

January 4, 2026

Lebohang Pita 2 minutes read

Man wearing a green sport's uniform and sunglasses — Jorich van Schalkwyk top-scored with an unbeaten 60 runs for South Africa. Photo: Lebohang Pita

Bad weather was the decider at Willowmoore Park as South Africa U19 suffered a 25-run defeat via the DLS method to India in the first Youth ODI (YODI) yesterday (January 3).

Chasing 301 for victory, the Junior Proteas were well placed on 148/4 when rain brought an early end to the match, as India drew first blood in the three-match series.

Man bowling — JJ Basson took four wickets. Photo: Lebohang Pita

Opener Jorich van Schalkwyk, who was supposed to be playing in the SA20 for the Joburg Super Kings, was unbeaten on 60 after he shared 86 runs for the fourth wicket with Amaan Manack before Harvash Pangalia, Vaibhav Suryavanshi and wicketkeeper Abhigyan Kundu combined to run-out Manack for a hard-fought 46 off 59, which included four boundaries.

South Africa had lost the wickets of Adnaan Lagadien (19 off 15), Captain Muhammed Bulbulia (5) and Jason Rowles (16) before Van Schalkwyk and Manack wrestled back control but Manack was run-out shortly before play was halted.

Cricket players huddled in a group — The SA U19 players celebrate after Bayanda Majola dismissed India’s Aaron George. Photo: Lebohang Pita

Earlier, Bulbulia won the toss and decided to send the Indians out to bat first.

That decision was justified early as the tourists lost Aaron George, caught at cover point by Van Schalkwyk off Bayanda Majola, and the big hitting Suryavanshi (the youngest player to score a century in the Indian Premier League), caught behind by keeper Lethabo Phahlamohlaka off JJ Basson, as they only managed 44/2 inside the opening 10 overs.

Kundu followed in the 14^th over after being run-out by bowler Bandile Mbatha and Verdant Trivedi also fell to Ntando Soni as the Indians found themselves in trouble on 67/4.

Batsmen wearing blue uniforms — India’s Harvash Pangalia and RS Ambrish shared a match-winning 137 run stand for the fifth-wicket. Photo: Lebohang Pita

But Pangalia and RS Ambrish fought back with a brilliant 137-run fifth-wicket partnership, which shifted momentum in India’s favour, before Mbatha broke the stand with the wicket off Ambrish, who was caught at fine leg by Lagadien

Pangalia top-scored with 93 off 95, studded with seven boundaries and two maximums, while Ambrish scored 65 off 79, which included seven fours, before SA produced a late surge, with a flurry of wickets, as India was dismissed for 300.

Basson dismissed Pangalia, caught by a flying Van Schalkwyk at mid-off, Kanishk Chouhan and Mohamed Enaan to finish as the standout performer for the hosts with the ball with four wickets in his 10 overs.

Both teams meet up again in the second YODI at Willowmoore Park tomorrow (January 5). First ball is at 09:30.

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