Led by Zubayr Hamza’s 60 and 62 from Shaun von Berg, the SA Invitation team gave the Bangladesh tourists a tough work-out in the tour warm-up at Benoni.
When Hamza fell, with the score on 110-5, there was a suggestion the Bangladesh bowlers would not get much of a run. But the sting was in the tail, with Von Berg’s 62 the mainstay as 203 runs were added for the loss of three wickets. The Invitation side declared on 313-8.
Backing up Von Berg were solid contributions from Matthew Breetzke (44) and Matthew Christensen (53) and a cavalier offering from Migael Pretorius, who slammed 42 off 23 balls (6×4, 2×6).
Hamza held the innings together while the top order came and went, at one point leaving the invitational side on 89-4 after 26 overs, chasing Bangladesh’s 306-7 declared. Hamza had taken the senior role and batted 101 balls (10×4) for his 60, until he fell to the pace of Taskin Ahmed.
The 18-year-old Breetzke, who learned his trade at Grey High, then picked up the baton, with strong support from Christiansen. Together they put on 58 until Breetzke was lbw to the offbreak spin of Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Von Berg was unbeaten at the end, having faced 110 balls (8×4, 1×6), but he was a mere bystander as Pretorius laid into the Bangladeshis.
At the close, the visitors were 6-0.
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
