Debutant seamer Nqobani Mokoena claimed a superb four-wicket haul, while Lhuan-dré Pretorius struck an unbeaten century as South Africa A (SA ‘A’) romped to a 10-wicket win over England Lions in the second one-day match at New Road in Worcester on Sunday.
The result hands the visitors an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with the final fixture scheduled for Tuesday at the same venue.
After stand-in captain Prenelan Subrayen won the toss and chose to bowl first, the 20-year-old Mokoena ripped through the top order, picking up the first three wickets, including a double strike in the 10th over, to leave the hosts reeling on 36/3.
Proteas seamer Kwena Maphaka (1/33) provided good support from the other end, dismissing England international Jordan Cox for five when the right-hander miscued a hook shot and gloved the ball through to the wicketkeeper.
Ben Mayes and Caleb Falconer managed to rebuild the innings with a 48-run partnership before Subrayen (1/47) made the breakthrough. Mayes (26) skied one straight down the ground to Jason Smith, who made good ground from long-on to complete a fine catch.
Ekansh Singh (27) then joined Falconer (45), and the pair combined for the highest partnership of the innings, adding 55 runs to take the score to 141/5 after 33 overs. However, Proteas left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin (2/30) dismissed both batters in quick succession and in similar fashion, pinning them leg before wicket.
Fortuin’s DP World Lions teammate Nqaba Peter (2/41) then found himself on a hat-trick in the 46th over. He first dismantled Mason Crane’s (22) stumps before new man Eddie Jack (0) chipped his very next delivery to Hermann at cover.
Mokoena returned to wrap up the innings, claiming the final wicket of Matthew Potts (25) to finish with impressive figures of four for 40 from 8.1 overs and restrict the hosts to 198 in 47.1 overs.
In reply, SA ‘A’ openers Pretorius and Rubin Hermann made light work of the 199-run target, with the pair scoring at under seven runs an over.
The 20-year-old Pretorius brought up his first fifty off 65 balls before shifting gears, needing just 38 deliveries to reach his next 50, which included three successive sixes off Crane in the 22nd over.
Hermann, meanwhile, recorded his consecutive half-century of the series, reaching the milestone off 49 balls.
Pretorius finished unbeaten on 116 off 114 balls (10 fours, 7 sixes) and Hermann on 83 not out off 69 balls (7 fours, 5 sixes) as they sealed a memorable win in 30.3 overs.
SOUTH AFRICA A ONE-DAY SQUAD AGAINST ENGLAND LIONS
Marques Ackerman (captain, Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Ottneil Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Gerald Coetzee (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tony de Zorzi (WSB Western Province), Connor Esterhuizen (DP World Lions), Dian Forrester (North West Dragons), Bjorn Fortuin (DP World Lions), Rubin Hermann (North West Dragons), Kwena Maphaka (DP World Lions), Nqobani Mokoena (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Nqaba Peter (DP World Lions), Lhuan-dré Pretorius (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sinethemba Qeshile (Warriors), Jason Smith (Hollywoodbets Dolphins) and Prenelan Subrayen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).
ONE-DAY SERIES
Friday, 05 June at 11:00 (12:00 SAST)
South Africa A beat England Lions by 9 wickets - Grace Road, Leicester
Sunday, 07 June at 11:00 (12:00 SAST)
South Africa A beat England Lions by 10 wickets - New Road, Worcester
Tuesday, 09 June at 11:00 (12:00 SAST)
England Lions v South Africa A - New Road, Worcester