Jack Haynes top-scored for England Under-19s in the second Royal London ODI versus South Africa Under-19s at Gosforth – but finished on the losing side.
The Worcestershire Academy player opened the innings and struck 74 off 106 balls with two sixes and six fours.
He shared in an opening stand of 124 in 28.5 overs with Ben Charlesworth (47).
But England were bowled out for 251 and the visitors reached their target with eight overs to spare and triumphed by six wickets to seal the series.
Two fine performances from Jonathan Bird and Louis van Schalkwyk guided South Africa to a comfortable win over.
Van Schalkwyk claimed figures of 5-32 and Bird was unbeaten on 142 from 123 balls with one six and 24 fours – a total of 102 in boundaries.
England won the toss and Charlesworth and Haynes were able to build a solid partnership, bringing the 50 up off 53 deliveries.
Haynes upped the ante to guide England past the 100 mark before notching his fifty off 82 balls, including three fours and two sixes.
Haynes received a life on 56, but Thando Ntini responded to his disappointment by breaking the opening partnership at 124 when he yorked Charlesworth on 47.
One wicket became two when Jade de Klerk turned a delivery past Tom Banton, who was stumped for by Sinethemba Qeshile.
England maintained their scoring rate as Haynes continued his fine innings.
He found the boundary at the expense of Curtis Campher, but fell in the same over, driving to Wandile Makwetu at cover.
Ollie Robinson made a half-century in the opener and looked on course for another as England aimed to kick on but the introduction of Van Schalkwyk proved to be their downfall.
He first removed Robinson for 43 before striking twice in the space of three balls to send Harrison Ward and Jordan Cook on their way. Luke Hollman was next to follow, while the off-spinner wrapped up the innings with the wicket of Jack Plom, claiming a five-wicket haul.
The Proteas got off to a lightning start in response as Van Schalkwyk and Jonathan Bird took the attack to the England seamers.
Middlesex’s Ethan Bamber dismissed Van Schalkwyk for 18 but Bird continued his assault and reached his second fifty in a row off 38 deliveries..
Thamsanqa Khumalo and Bird built a stand worth fifty before the former played a loose drive off Cook.
Qeshile was run out but Bird found his rhythm against the spinners and was able to reach his century off 98 deliveries.
A century partnership between the opener and Makwetu put the Proteas over the line, with the skipper making a fifty before his late dismissal, although it was more than enough to wrap up the series.
