Australia A take a 360-run lead through to the final day of the first Test against South Africa A in Brisbane.
SA A fought back late on on day three, taking five wickets in the final nine overs of play, but Australia still boast a commanding lead, with an overnight declaration likely if they go in search of victory.
The hosts, who bowled the tourists out for 284 earlier in the day, closed on 248-7 after their first-innings total of 396.
The South Africans had begun play fairly well placed on 181-4 in reply to Australia’s 396 all out, but set batsman Stiaan van Zyl managed to add just five to his overnight total, before he was out for an innings-high 85 (139 balls, 13 fours). That left Dane Vilas to bat with the tail and, despite a strong, unbeaten 60 (90 balls, 7 fours) from the wicketkeeper, there was little support elsewhere with the away team all out in 89.3 overs. Chris Tremain was the pick of the bowlers with 5-75.
The Australian openers then made South Africa toil as they put on 146 in 36.2 overs – Matt Renshaw top-scoring with 94 (128 balls, 14 fours, 2 sixes) and Cameron Bancroft hitting 71 (125 balls, 11 fours).
Dane Piedt (1-70) made the initial breakthrough, before Glenn Maxwell, left out of Australia’s ODI side to face Sri Lanka, blasted 38 off just 22 balls, including three sixes and two fours to take his side past 200. Once he fell to Duanne Olivier, who was pick of the bowlers with 3-28, the rest followed.
Sisanda Magala was also amongst the wickets with 2-50.
Photo: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
