Published: Jul 30, 2017, 08:36 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 30, 2017, 09:12 PM (IST)
It was a clinical performance by South Africa A as they registered a comprehensive 164-run victory over Afghanistan A. After being put into bat, South Africa posted a massive total of 336 runs on the board, thanks to a splendid knock by Reeza Hendricks. The opener scored an unbeaten 173 and played a pivotal role in helping his team to pile up such a huge score. In reply, Afghanistan A suffered a collapse in the latter part of the innings as they lost 5 wickets for just 6 runs and were bowled out for 172.
The foundation was laid by South African openers, Reeza Hendricks and Henry Davids, who added 79 runs for the first-wicket partnership. Even after breaking the partnership, there was no respite for the Afghanistan bowlers. Hendricks, who was particularly severe against the likes of Karim Janat and Fareed Ahmad, thrashed them to all the parts of the ground.
Heinrich Klaasen also scored a handy 30, before he was dismissed by Rahmat Shah on the team score of 175. After Klaasen’s dismissal, it was the pair of Hendricks and skipper Khaya Zondo, who stitched a mammoth partnership of 132 runs to take the game completely away from Afghanistan A.
In reply, Afghanistan got off to a poor start as they lost 2 wickets for just 19 runs on the board. They, however, were brought back in the game by Rahmat Shah and Nasir Jamal. The pair rebuilt the innings with a 75-run partnership.
The South African skipper then brought Tabraiz Shamsi into the attack and it just took him 2 deliveries to break the partnership as he got Rahmat Shah plumb in front. From the other end, Aaron Phangiso provided another breakthrough by getting Nasir Jamal back in the pavilion. With both the set batsmen out, Afghanistan A had to start all over again.
However, they were not able to do so as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out for 172. While Tabraiz Shamsi finished with a 4-for, Dane Peterson picked up 3 of the last 4 wickets.
Brief Scores:
South Africa A: 336 for 5 in 50 overs (Reeza Hendricks 173*, Khaya Zondo 62; Rahmat Shah 2 for 58) beat Afghanistan A: 172 all-out in 32.2 overs (Rahmat Shah 55, Nasir Jamal 33; Tabraiz Shamsi 4 for 19) by 164 runs.
Player of the Match: Reeza Hendricks
