Centuries from Lesego Senokwane and Sinethemba Qeshile powered South Africa A to 372/4 at stumps on the opening day of the second four-day match against Bangladesh A at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Sunday.

Senokwane struck 111 from 169 balls, while Qeshile remained unbeaten on 111 from 145 deliveries as the hosts took control after Bangladesh A won the toss and elected to bowl.

South Africa A suffered an early setback when T Dithole was dismissed for four with just 10 runs on the board, but Senokwane and Zubayr Hamza responded with a 151-run partnership for the second wicket.

Hamza scored 68 from 104 deliveries, striking 10 fours and a six, before he was dismissed with the score on 161/2.

Marques Ackerman followed shortly afterwards for four, leaving South Africa A on 166/3.

Senokwane continued to anchor the innings and brought up his century as South Africa A moved beyond 200. His innings eventually came to an end for 111, having struck 13 fours and a six from his 169 deliveries.

His dismissal left the hosts on 208/4 in the 55th over, giving Bangladesh A an opportunity to work their way back into the contest.

Qeshile and G Kaplan ensured that did not happen.

The pair combined for an unbeaten 164-run fifth-wicket partnership to take South Africa A through to stumps without any further damage.

Qeshile was the aggressor of the partnership, reaching his century and finishing the day unbeaten on 111 from 145 balls. His innings included 15 fours and a six and came at a strike rate of 76.55.

Kaplan provided excellent support at the other end with an unbeaten 72 from 99 deliveries, striking four fours and a six.

Their partnership lifted South Africa A from 208/4 to 372/4 by the close of play, with the hosts scoring at more than four runs per over across the 89 overs bowled on the opening day.

Bangladesh A’s bowlers shared the four wickets, but struggled to make further inroads after breaking the Senokwane-Hamza partnership.

Hasan Murad carried the heaviest workload, bowling 32 overs and returning figures of 1/114, while the remaining three wickets were shared between M Hasan, R Raja and another M Hasan listed on the scorecard.

With Qeshile and Kaplan both well set and Delano Potgieter still among the batters to come, South Africa A will resume on 372/4 on day two with an opportunity to build a sizeable first-innings total.

South Africa A: 372/4 (89 overs) – Lesego Senokwane 111, Sinethemba Qeshile 111*, G Kaplan 72*, Zubayr Hamza 68.