Australia A bounced back from their shock 52-run loss to the National Performance Squad (NPS) when they beat South Africa A by six wickets in the fifth match of the A-quadrangular 50-over series in Darwin on Thursday.

Bowlers Ben Cutting and Kane Richardson returned figures of 4-27 and 3-13 respectively to restrict the South African side to a very modest 160 with four balls remaining of their innings, after winning the toss and putting the visitors in to bat first.

Dominic Hendricks (20) and Heino Kuhn shared the only 50-run partnership of the innings before the latter was dismissed by Cutting for 30 in the 11th over. The bowler struck a second time in the same over when Rilee Rossouw was trapped lbw without scoring.

The visitors struggled to form lasting partnerships thanks to the rampant attack. They lost Vaughn van Jaarsveld (5) and skipper Justin Ontong (2) before they could settle in. Farhaan Behardien and Mangaliso Mosehle (20) shared a 36-run partnership for the sixth wicket that gave some stability, but was soon torn asunder when the former was dismissed by Marcus Stoinis (2-8) for 18.

Aaron Phangiso (15) once again showed his ability to stick around, hanging on stubbornly for 40 balls before Cutting dismissed him. Beuran Hendricks and Mthokozisi Shezi also contributed 32 vital runs for the 10th wicket and, along with the added 15 runs conceded in extras by the bowlers, gave South Africa a respectable total in the end.

Cameron White scored 68 from 113 balls in their reply, including nine fours, to get his side on the road to victory. Phangiso took the wickets of Cutting (0) and Alex Doolan (19) to slow down the scoring rate, but in the end, Callum Ferguson’s (35) unbeaten 39-run, fifth-wicket partnership with Tom Cooper (14) saw Australia win comfortably with 28 balls to spare.

South Africa A rest at the bottom of the points table ahead of their match against India A this Saturday.

Match report courtesy of CSA

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