South Africa A end Quadrangular Series on a high thanks to Shezi six-for

An all-round performance by the South Africa A team put an end to their losing streak when they beat the National Performance (NPS) squad by 27 runs in their last 50-over match of the A Quadrangular Series in Darwin on Thursday.

Mthokozisi Shezi took an outstanding six wickets for 42 runs to help his side to victory after South Africa won the toss and batted first, posting a competitive 281/8. Reeza Hendricks and Rilee Rossouw spearheaded the innings, scoring 74 runs each after Heino Kuhn was removed without scoring.

Justin Ontong scored 40 off 53 balls, while Vaughn van Jaarsveld added 33 off 27 balls to cap off the innings’ most notable performances. NPS’s Jason Behrendorff took 4/55 in nine overs.

Shezi surprised the top order, dismissing Alex Keath (28), Cameron Bancroft (7) and Jordan Silk (1). Travis Head brought calm and some hope to the innings with his remarkable knock of 108 from 100 balls, but, after Shezi sent him back to the hut, only Ashton Turner (41) could score a substantial number of runs.

Kagiso Rabada took 2/43, while Marchant de Lange and Simon Harmer took a wicket each to round off the rest of the wickets.

South Africa A will shift their focus to preparation for their first four-day Test against Australia A from 7 August in Townsville.