Andile Simelane and Tiaan van Vuuren struck late on day three to keep South Africa Emerging Men in contention against Bangladesh Emerging in the first four-day match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Thursday.
The new-ball pair reduced the hosts to five for two in three overs after the tourists had earlier fallen for 243 – an innings deficit of 65.
Seamer Simelane (1-1) removed Ashiqur Rahman Shibli, who recorded a century in the first innings, for one with the 11th ball of the innings and Van Vuuren (1-4) got the better of Chowdhury Md Rizwan for four five balls later ensuring the visitors went to stumps on a high.
This after they would have felt disappointed by their batting display earlier in the day when they fell from their overnight 149-3 to 243 all out.
George van Heerden (63 off 127 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) began the day well alongside Richard Seletswane (43) with the pair stretching their partnership for the fourth wicket to 107 when it was finally broken by Rakibul Hasan who had the captain caught behind.
Hashan was in fact the star man for his side as he bagged 7-64.
He also accounted for Seletswane three runs later with Simelane (0) falling victim to Moin Khan (1-26) – the only batter not dismissed by the spinner on day three.
The 22-year-old then worked his way through the South African tail as only Andile Mogakane (43) put up any resistance.
The visitors were finally bowled out in 89.4 overs and had the Simelane-Van Vuuren combo to thank for keeping them in with a chance at the close.
SA Emerging Men’s Squad against Bangladesh Emerging
George van Heerden (captain, Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Connor Esterhuizen (DP World Lions), Muhammad Manack (DP World Lions), Dian Forrester (Knights), Dewan Marais (Eastern Storm), Andile Mogakane (Dafabet Warriors), Nqobani Mokoena (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tshepo Ndwandwa (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tshepo Ntuli (Northern Cape Heat), Romashan Pillay (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Meeka-eel Prince (Renault North West Dragons), Andile Simelane (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Richard Seletswane (DP World Lions), Tiaan van Vuuren (Knights), and Ntandoyenkosi Zuma (ACDC Express Tuskers).
FOUR-DAY MATCHES
Tuesday, 20 May – Friday, 23 May at 09:30
Bangladesh Emerging v South Africa Emerging – Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram
Tuesday, 27 May – Friday, 30 May at 09:30
Bangladesh Emerging v South Africa Emerging – Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka