Warner altercation overshadows tame draw

Australia A 474 for 5 dec (Warner 193, Maxwell 155*) and 254 for 6 (Finch 88) drew with South Africa A 614 for 7 dec (Elgar 268, Tsolekile 159)
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

David Warner was again gaining attention for the wrong reasons as he found himself in yet another heated altercation, this time with South Africa A's wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile. Warner got into a war of words with Tsolekile during the final day's play, with the pair having to be separated by South Africa A's Vaughn van Jaarsveld, and the umpires having to intervene.

Warner, however, termed the incident "friendly banter" as he took to Twitter after the match: "Great to be back playing cricket, had lots of fun this week and a bit of friendly banter from the wicket keeper. Was very funny!!"

With Australia currently embroiled in an Ashes series, Warner had been sent on Australia A's tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe with a focus on gaining meaningful match practice for the longer format, as he was suspended from playing the warm-ups leading up to the first Test following his altercation with Joe Root during the Champions Trophy. Only two days ago, Warner had admitted he needed a "kick up the bum" after that incident.

That was not the first time Warner had been in the news for the wrong reasons this summer. In May, he was involved in a heated Twitter exchange with Australian journalists Malcolm Conn and Robert Craddock, for which he later issued a public apology, and was subsequently fined AUD $5750 (US $5600) by Cricket Australia for his indiscretions.

The game itself ended in the draw that always looked likely. Australia A began the fourth day's play with a 28-run partnership between openers Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh. Once Marsh departed for 11, Alex Doolan came in, with the pair putting on 105 runs for the second wicket. Doolan was later dismissed leg before by Kyle Abbott for 38. Warner came in at No. 4 and, fresh from his 193 in the first innings, struck six boundaries before being caught behind, ironically, by Tsolekile off Beuran Hendricks for 33.

Wickets fell at regular intervals for the Australians, but the efforts of Finch (88), Doolan, and Warner ensured they batted out enough time to hold on to a draw in the first unofficial Test between these sides. Both teams will have a three-day break before they resume battle in the second unofficial Test in Rustenburg on July 31.