South Africa A thump Australia A

South Africa A have recorded their first win of the Quadrangular ‘A’ Series with a thumping eight-wicket victory over Australia A in Townsville.

A sublime bowling performance led by speedster Dane Paterson (3-13) and left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (3-25) dismissed the hosts for just 107.

In reply, South Africa A had little trouble knocking off the total, losing two wickets to South Australia seamer Joe Mennie before Theunis de Bruyn (57no) and David Miller (20no) guided the tourists to their maiden win on tour with 29 overs to spare.

South Africa now sit second on the Quad Series points table, edging out today’s opponent on Net Run Rate but remain behind the undefeated Cricket Australia National Performance Squad. 

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia A were rocked early by Paterson, who removed Chris Lynn (5), Alex Ross (6) and Glenn Maxwell (10) cheaply to finish with 3-13 from his eight overs.

Paterson was adjudged player of the match for his damaging spell, with Shamsi the other key contributor in his first match for South Africa A this tour.

Dangerous allrounder Marcus Stoinis was removed on the third ball of the day, providing a boost for the tourists who then removed Lynn soon after.

But it was the dismissal of Peter Handscomb (12) that started the flow of wickets; the Victorian run-out in extraordinary fashion after a straight drive from the bat of Cameron Bancroft (16) ricocheted off the hand of bowler Andile Phehlukwayo (0-24) in his follow through and onto the stumps.

Handscomb was caught backing up too far and threw his head back in disbelief as he left the centre square for the hosts’ dugout. 

West End Redbacks quick Kane Richardson did his part to salvage his side’s poor batting effort, top-scoring with 34no in tandem with Cameron Boyce (14) to help the hosts post 107.

The lower-order’s fightback was in vain as the visitors made light work of the total to notch their first win of the tournament.

Mennie gave Australia A some hope of an upset with a wicket from his first ball of the match in the second over, removing Reeza Hendricks for one.

The tall right-armer struck again with the final ball of the tenth over – Heino Kuhn caught behind for 15 slashing at a wide delivery.

But from there it was all de Bruyn and Miller.

The pair combined for an unbeaten stand worth 65 runs to conclude their pursuit after 21 overs.

De Bruyn continued his good form, adding a half-century to the 40 he made against India A last Wednesday, while Miller backed up his 90 in the same match four days ago with a neat 29-ball 20.

Australia A take on the National Performance Squad on Wednesday as the series moves south to Mackay, with South Africa A out to avenge their most-recent loss to India A on Thursday.