Khaya Zondo and Neil Brand struck half-centuries for South Africa A against the West Indies A on day one of the third four-day match in Bloemfontein.
Zondo top scored with 70 off 114 balls (seven fours, two sixes) as the hosts were restricted to 274 from 67.4 overs in their first innings at the Mangaung Oval, with captain Brand adding 62 off 93 (eight fours).
Kevin Sinclair led the visitors’ bowling efforts with a return of 5-44, with Shamar Joseph (3-65) and Shermon Lewis (2-68) claiming the other five wickets.
SA A made four changes to the side that beat the West Indies A in the second match, with batsmen David Bedingham and Zubayr Hamza coming in for Tony de Zorzi and Keegan Petersen, and seamers Duanne Olivier and Hardus Viljoen replacing Tshepo Moreki and Dane Piedt.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Brand and Raynard van Tonder put 47 runs on the board before the latter flicked one from Joseph down leg and was caught behind for 25.
Bedingham, who on Monday received his maiden Test call up for the Test series against India, faced 11 balls before he was caught off Lewis for five.
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Hamza (30) was next in and showed positive intent by getting off the mark with a boundary and added four more boundaries before the right-hander nicked a faint edge behind as Joseph picked up his second of the match.
Joseph then claimed his third scalp in consecutive overs as Brand fended one off to Zachary McCaskie at second slip.
With the score on 129-4, Zondo took on the role as anchor and marshalled on to his half-century off 77 balls.
However, at the other end, Sinclair dismissed the last recognised batsmen – Ruan de Swardt (18), Clyde Fortuin (25) and Mihlali Mpongwana (nought).
Zondo eventually fell to Lewis as he edged behind. His wicket brought two more for the visitors as Sinclair wrapped up the innings in the very next over.
Olivier got the breakthrough for SA A, with Tagenarine Chanderpaul (three) edging one to Hamza in the slip cordon.
McCaskie (12*) and Kirk McKenzie (two) ensured no further wickets fell late in the day as they closed on 17-1.
Photo: Charle Lombard/Gallo Images
