South Africa A ended day two 307 runs adrift of Sussex’s first-innings score, with only four wickets in hand on Friday.
The match was in the balance at the start of day two, with Sussex on 325-7. Danny Briggs and Abidine prevented the visitors from striking early as they added a further 65 runs to their overnight total, before Sakande was bowled by Proteas spinner Dane Piedt.
SA A failed to capitalise on this breakthrough, however, with Briggs finding an able partner in Jake Hutson. The bowlers continued to toil, while the batsmen kept the scoreboard ticking. They added 70 for the ninth wicket before Duanne Olivier took the wicket of Hutson, his third of the innings.
Briggs continued to be a thorn in SA A’s side and finished the innings unbeaten on 120 after Adam Barton became the final wicket to fall, Sussex 458 all out.
The visitors’ innings got off to a less than ideal start when captain Aiden Markram was forced to depart, George Garton trapping him lbw for a duck. Temba Bavuma and Jason Smith did a good job of limiting the damage by adding 56, before Smith was sent on his way for a workmanlike 18. Bavuma and one-day captain Khaya Zondo ensured that momentum remained with South Africa by leading them past the three-figure mark.
Just as the two were beginning to assert their dominance at the crease, the untimely dismissal of Bavuma came for 63. Zondo followed shortly thereafter to leave SA A struggling on 118-4.
All-rounder Wiaan Mulder could only muster seven before leg-break bowler Will Beer left the visitors in all kinds of strife. The hosts capped off a good day at the office when Beer picked up his third scalp, Heinrich Klaasen for just five.
Dane Piedt (2*) and Rudi Second saw their side to stumps on 151-6. The possibility of a follow-on looms large.
