Sandhu, O'Keefe keep South Africa A in check

South Africa A 5 for 220 (Ontong 86, Bavuma 55, Sandhu 3-60) v Australia A
Scorecard

The South Africa A captain Justin Ontong fell short of a century on the first day of the second match against Australia A in Townsville, where it was slow going for the visitors after they chose to bat. Three wickets from Gurinder Sandhu caused some early problems for South Africa, but Ontong and Temba Bavuma led a recovery that allowed them to reach 5 for 220 at stumps.

Sandhu (3 for 60) had Heino Kuhn lbw for 6 and Khaya Zondo bowled for 3 to leave South Africa at 2 for 20, and when he added Reeza Hendricks for 32, the score was a slightly shaky 3 for 56. But Bavuma, fresh from his century in the first match last week, again staved off the Australians and formed a 78-run partnership with his captain, Ontong.

The left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe broke the stand when he had Bavuma caught attempting a pull for 55, but Ontong found further support from Farhaan Behardien. They put on 82 for the fifth wicket and looked set to survive until stumps when in the second last over of the afternoon, Ontong's edge onto his pad was snapped up at short leg by Matthew Wade.

That gave O'Keefe a second wicket and meant Ontong was out for 86, missing the chance to reach triple-figures. At stumps, Behardien was unbeaten on 35 and he had been joined by David Wiese, who was yet to face a ball.