Young batsmen put Aus A on top in Brisbane

Australia A hold all the aces heading into the final day of their first-class match with South Africa, with the home side boasting a 360-run lead after a dominant showing at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.

At stumps, the hosts were 7-248, captain Peter Handscomb (14) out from the final ball and Joe Mennie (0) the not out batsman.

Queenslander Matthew Renshaw (94) and WA's Cameron Bancroft (71) put on 146 for the first wicket to build the key foundation for the Australians, allowing the middle order to tee off with a declaration in mind after the Proteas were bowled out for 284 shortly after lunch.

Bushrangers quick Chris Tremain claimed the best figures among the Australian bowling group, with 5-75 from 23.3 overs, while Dane Vilas provided the only real resistance among the South Africans on day three, making an unbeaten 60.  

South Australia's Dan Worrall got the first breakthrough of the day with the scalp of Stiaan van Zyl (85), who added only five to his overnight total before edging through to give wicketkeeper Sam Whiteman his third catch.

Young leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson was introduced after the drinks break and bounced back from some early punishment to knock over Andile Phehlukwayo for two, while Joe Mennie (2-27 from 20) claimed Vernon Philander (7) and Dane Piedt (7) either side as Whiteman snared a fourth catch.

After lunch, Bancroft and Handscomb each took sharp grabs as Australia A closed out the innings to earn a 112-run lead.

Renshaw and Bancroft patiently built on that lead before tea, the pair playing themselves in nicely in conditions that remain helpful to the batsmen.

In the final session, they accelerated sharply, Renshaw passing 50 and taking his score towards his century at better than a run a ball.

The tall left-hander hit two sixes – one over cover off the spin of Dane Piedt, and another from medium pacer Stiaan van Zyl over midwicket – as the openers combined to set their side up perfectly for the coming assault.

Upon Renshaw's dismissal, caught behind off the bowling of Piedt, skipper Handscomb sent the big-hitting Glenn Maxwell in and the recently-dropped Australia ODI batsman provided an entertaining cameo.

Two boundaries came from his crafty reverse paddle, while he also launched three sweetly-struck sixes in a lightning 38 from 22 balls.

Maxwell, Kurtis Patterson (six), Marcus Stoinis (14) and Sam Whiteman (2) all fell in the pursuit of quick runs, paceman Sisanda Magala taking three wickets as the hosts looked to build a big enough lead while also allowing themselves enough time to bowl out their opposition on the fourth and final day.

And while the pitch continues to favour the batsmen, South Africa will have to apply themselves more committedly in the second innings than they did first time around if they're to escape with a draw, or more improbably, a win in this winter 'A' series opener. 

"(Our bowling group) are all hard workers and hopefully they can take those 10 wickets we need," Renshaw said after play.

"The pitch is playing pretty well but there are a couple of cracks starting to open up. A couple (of balls) hit them today and moved around today, so hopefully we can hit them and get a few wickets out of it."

All you need to know: Teams, schedule and more for winter series

The match begins a carnival of winter cricket in Queensland over the next six weeks, with the best up-and-coming players from Australia, South Africa and India to lock horns in a combination of four-day and 50-over matches to be played in Brisbane, Townsville and Mackay.

The A sides from Australia and South Africa will be joined next month by India A and Cricket Australia's National Performance Squad in a quadrangular 50-over series with matches in Townsville and Mackay, a key component of Cricket Australia's commitment to take cricket to all parts of Australia.

Another two unofficial Tests will then be played against India A in Brisbane in September. Check out the full schedule HERE.

Cricket.com.au will have a live stream of every match of the winter series as well as exclusive video highlights and the latest news and scores as the next generation of international stars square off.