Lungi Ngidi and Gerald Coetzee shared six wickets as the Proteas enjoyed another productive outing on day two of their only warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI at The Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Saturday.
The South Africans reached stumps on nine for none in the second innings of what is a four-day game after being bowled out for 347 at the start of the second day and then bowling out the hosts for 226.
It gave them an overall lead of 130 as they head into the second half of the game.
They had started proceedings by losing their last three wickets for 12 runs, with the impressive Kyle Verreynne eventually dismissed for 80 off 105 balls (14 fours, 1 six).
But the bowlers then impressed in their first outing of the tour when they restricted the home side to a deficit of 121 – only two batters amongst the opposition crossing 11. They were unbeaten centurion Campbell Kellaway (105 off 186 balls, 13 fours) and Jake Doran (78 off 105 balls, 9 fours, 1 six).
Everyone else struggled with Ngidi’s early wickets putting the CA XI under plenty of early pressure. The paceman, South Africa’s best bowler with three for 26, along with Kagiso Rabada (1/33) helped reduce the hosts to 25 for four, before the major partnership of the innings rescued the score to 168.
Marco Jansen (1/35) eventually ended that stand, with Keshav Maharaj (2/49) and rookie Coetzee (3/36) cleaning up the tail.
Captain and first-innings centurion Dean Elgar was unbeaten on six at the close with Sarel Erwee (2) alongside him.
The match is not classified as a first-class game allowing for the Proteas management to give everyone in the squad an opportunity for game time ahead of the first Test of the three-match series at The Gabba from 17-21 December.
Proteas Test squad against Australia
Dean Elgar (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Temba Bavuma (DP World Lions), Gerald Coetzee (ITEC Knights), Theunis de Bruyn (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions), Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper, Six Gun Grill Western Province), Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans), Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).
South Africa Test Tour to Australia Itinerary
Four-day Tour Match
09 – 12 December
Cricket Australia XI vs South Africa – The Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Tests
17 – 21 December
Australia vs South Africa – The Gabba, Brisbane
26 – 30 December
Australia vs South Africa – MCG, Melbourne
04 – 08 January
Australia vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney
