Half-centuries for Zondo and Brand in Bloem

Khaya Zondo and Neil Brand both struck half-centuries for South Africa A (SA ‘A’) against West Indies A on day one of the third four-day match at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

Zondo top scored with 70 off 114 balls (7 fours and 2 sixes) as the hosts were restricted to 274 from 67.4 overs in their first innings, with captain Brand adding 62.

Kevin Sinclair led the bowling efforts with a return of 5-44, with Shamar Joseph (3-65) and Shermon Lewis (2-68) claiming the other five wickets.

SA ‘A’ made four changes to the side that beat West Indies A in the second match with batters David Bedingham and Zubayr Hamza in for Tony de Zorzi and Keegan Petersen.

Seamers Duanne Olivier and Hardus Viljoen returned for the series decider in place of Tshepo Moreki and Dane Piedt.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Brand and Raynard van Tonder put 47 runs on the board between them before the latter flicked one from Joseph down leg and was caught behind for 25.

Bedingham, who received his maiden test call up for the Betway test series against India on Monday, faced 11 balls before he was caught off Lewis for 5.

Hamza (30) was next in and showed positive intent by getting off the mark with a boundary and added four more before the right-hander nicked a faint edge behind as Joseph picked up his second of the match.

Joseph then claimed his third scalp in consecutive overs as Brand fended one off to Zachary McCaskie at second slip.

With the score on 129/4, Zondo took on the role as anchor and marshalled on to his half-century off 77 balls.

However, at the other end, regular strikes from Sinclair prevented the last recognised batters – Ruan de Swardt (18), Clyde Fortuin (25) and Mihlali Mpongwana (0) – from going on to convert.

Zondo eventually fell to Lewis as he edged behind. His wicket brought two more for the visitors as Sinclair wrapped up the innings in the very next over.

In reply, Olivier got the breakthrough with Tagenarine Chanderpaul (3) edging one to Hamza in the slip cordon.

McCaskie (12*) and Kirk McKenzie (2*) ensured no further wickets fell late in the day as they closed on 17/1.

South Africa A squad

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).

Tour itinerary

21 – 24 November at 10:00

South Africa A lost to West Indies A by 1 wicket – Willowmoore Park in Benoni

28 November – 01 December at 10:00

South Africa A beat West Indies A by 232 runs – Buffalo Park in East London

05 – 08 December at 10:00

South Africa A v West Indies A – Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein