Petersen, Van Tonder impress on day one in East London

Keegan Petersen struck his second half-century of the tour on day one of the second four-day match between South Africa A (SA ‘A’) and West Indies A at Buffalo Park in East London on Tuesday.

The Proteas batter recorded 67 off 124 balls, with eight fours, as SA ‘A’ closed on 266/6.

Raynard van Tonder (50) and Tony de Zorzi (44) were also among the runs for the home side.

Shamar Joseph (2-39), Kevin Sinclair (2-49) and Jair McAllister (2-68) were the pick of the bowlers with their double strikes.

STUMPS| Day 1

Keegan Petersen (67) and Raynard van Tonder(50) led the run-scoring as the SA 'A' notched 266/6 at Buffalo Park 🇿🇦🌴#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAAvWIA pic.twitter.com/kGtfZ7TG74

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) November 28, 2023

The visitors, who lead the three-match tour 1-0, won the toss and opted to field first at the start when mist caused an early delay.

Only 33 minutes of play were possible in the first session of the day due to the poor visibility with an early lunch called for bad light and the score on 18/0.

West Indies A struck early on after the break when Joseph trapped SA ‘A’ captain Neil Brand leg before wicket for 4.

De Zorzi and Van Tonder then combined for a 65-run partnership spanning 20.4 overs, before Sinclair had De Zorzi caught by Zachary McCaskie at short leg.

Van Tonder was joined by Petersen and brought up his 50 off 83 balls with his ninth boundary of the innings, but fell three balls later to McAllister as he held on off his own bowling.

Petersen and Proteas batter Khaya Zondo looked well set in their fourth-wicket stand of 86 runs, but it was Joseph who eventually got the breakthrough for the West Indies as Petersen played one square to Sinclair at point.

That wicket soon brought another as Zondo (35 off 91 balls, 5 fours and 1 six) fell within the next three overs as he pulled one off Sinclair into the hands of the sub fielder Shermon Lewis at short fine leg.

Sinclair continued to make his mark on the game as he held on to a catch off McAllister to dismiss Clyde Fortuin for 12.

Ruan de Swardt (25*) and Mihlali Mpongwana (12*) ensured no further wickets fell before the close. View full scorecard here.

South Africa A squad against West Indies A

Neil Brand (Momentum Multiply Titans, captain), David Bedingham (Western Province), Ruan de Swardt (North West Dragons), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Clyde Fortuin (Gbets Rocks), Zubayr Hamza (DP World Lions), Tshepo Moreki (DP World Lions), Mihlali Mpongwana (Western Province), Duanne Olivier (DP World Lions), Dane Paterson (Western Province), Keegan Petersen (Gbets Rocks), Dane Piedt (ITEC Knights), Raynard van Tonder (North West Dragons), Hardus Viljoen (Gbets Rocks) and Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).