Maddinson shines on difficult day one

Full Scorecard

Captain Aaron Finch won the toss and elected to bat, hoping to pile on the runs like his men did in Pretoria.

That wouldn't be the case in Rustenburg, a place known for its game parks not its tricky wickets.

Finch and first-drop Alex Doolan were both poached for naught, leaving the tourists 2-5.

Shaun Marsh and Nic Maddinson flipped from the hunted to the hunters, regrouping and taking Australia A past 50.

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However, as quick as a cheetah, Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and Time Paine fell, keeping the big five in the sheds with only 16 runs between them.

Beuran Hendricks's trophy cabinet was filling up fast, collecting the scalps of Mitchell Marsh and Nathan Coulter-Nile. At this stage Australia A was 7-68.

Maddinson had to watch the carnage from the non-striker's end, but he and Chadd Sayers combined for 40 to push the score past three figures.

Sayers's exit on 22 triggered another mini-collapse - Fawad Ahmed out for two to make it 9-115.

There was no point hanging around thought Maddinson, taking down Hendricks for 16 off one over before the left-arm quick would have his prize and his fifth wicket. Maddinson out for 88, Australia A 146.

Quick wickets were needed if the visitors were to remain in the contest but they couldn't be found, South Africa A through Dean Elgar and Reeza Hendricks piling on a century opening stand.

Sayers would find a way through Hendricks's defences in the 30th over, bowling him 37.

Mitchell Marsh and Coulter-Nile would snare a wicket each; Elgar out for an impressive 83. 

South Africa A ended day one on 3-165, 19 runs ahead with seven wickets in hand.

Early wickets are key on the morning of day two for Australia A, otherwise a stampede of runs might flatten their hopes of victory.