Zubayr Hamza struck a century but it was not enough to save South Africa A as they fell to a 185-run defeat to New Zealand A on the final day of the first four-day match that ended at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Wednesday.
The top order batter made 124 (169 balls, 15 fours, 2 sixes), digging deep for the hosts, before they were bowled out for 312 in pursuit of an unlikely target of 498.
The result meant that the tourists, who lost the one-day series 2-1, took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
The day had started with the home side in a promising position on 106 for one, and with Hamza and the in-form opener Jordan Hermann in the midst of a 103-run second wicket partnership.
But the latter fell from the first ball of the day when he was bowled by Adithya Ashok (4/100) and that start threatened to set the tone.
Captain Marques Ackerman was in next, and together with Hamza, they strung together another positive partnership, this time 91 for the third wicket, to take the South Africans to a relatively comfortable position at 197 for two as lunch drew nearer.
During that time, the 30-year-old Hamza completed his 19th first-class hundred, whilst the skipper got to within three of a half-century. However, Josh Clarkson (1/19) ended that crucial stand by removing the captain and Jason Smith (8) followed not long after.
Hamza was next to go, diminishing South Africa’s prospects further and the best the middle-lower order could offer was Sinethemba Qeshile’s 36.
In the end, they were bowled out for 312 to fall behind in the series. The second match gets underway on Sunday at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.
South Africa A Four-Day Squad against New Zealand A
Marques Ackerman (captain, Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Okuhle Cele (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Gerald Coetzee (Momentum Multiply Titans), Schalk Engelbrecht (Momentum Multiply Titans), Zubayr Hamza (DP World Lions), Jordan Hermann (Dafabet Warriors), Tristan Luus (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Rivaldo Moonsamy (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tshepo Moreki (World Sports Betting Western Province), Mihlali Mpongwana (World Sports Betting Western Province), Tsepo Ndwandwa (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sinethemba Qeshile (Dafabet Warriors), Lesego Senokwane (Momentum Multiply Titans), Lutho Sipamla (DP World Lions), Jason Smith (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), and Codi Yusuf (DP World Lions).
Four-Day Matches
07 – 10 September at 10:00
South Africa A lost to New Zealand A by 185 runs – JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
14 – 17 September at 10:00
South Africa A vs New Zealand A – Willowmoore Park, Benoni
