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Cape Town - South Africa 'A's first experience of the pink ball did not go entirely according to plan as they endured a battling start to the first four-day test against Australia 'A' on Saturday with the hosts reaching stumps on 302/5 at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane.
All five of the tourists’ front-line bowlers managed a wicket, but they were thwarted by an unbeaten century from Marcus Stoinis.
The right-hander, who has already played both limited-overs formats for Australia’s senior team, completed his fourth first-class ton and was still batting at the close on 118 not out (166 balls, 18 fours, 1 six).
Before Stoinis came to the middle, the visitors had gained the upper-hand by reducing the home side to 80/3 after they had won the toss and chose to bat first.
Cameron Bancroft (34) and Matt Renshaw (25) had put on 60 for the opening wicket, before Dane Piedt (1/52) broke the stand with the wicket of the latter.
Vernon Philander (1/32) then dismissed Bancroft, followed by the dismissal of Australia 'A' captain Peter Handscomb (4), removed by Duanne Olivier (1/59), but Kurtis Patterson hit 74 (146 balls, 13 fours) and shared in a stand of 151 with Stoinis to rebuild the innings.
The wicket of Patterson, who was bowled by Andile Phehlukwayo (1/44), was followed by that of star batsman Glenn Maxwell for a duck - Sisanda Magala (1/88) getting his name among the wickets. An unbroken stand between Stoinis and Sam Whiteman (35) took the hosts to the close in a strong position.
South Africa have eight players with Test experience in their playing XI – openers Stephen Cook, also the captain, and Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl, Temba Bavuma, Dane Vilas, Philander and Piedt. Several of those players are likely to play their first-ever Day/Night Test during the Proteas’ tour to Australia in November, with the third match of the three-game schedule to be played under lights in Adelaide.
