South Africa 415 (De Kock 122, Duminy 97, Amla 51) v Cricket Australia XI
Scorecard
Quinton de Kock enjoyed a hit-out against the pink ball © Cricket Australia/Getty Images
Quinton de Kock warmed up for the Test series against Australia with a century on South Africa’s first day of play on this tour, while JP Duminy fell just short of triple figures. Against an inexperienced Cricket Australia XI at Adelaide Oval, the South Africans piled on 415 against the pink-ball in the day-night contest, with Hashim Amla also posting a half-century.
The two-day match does not have first-class status and de Kock described it as little more than net practice, but all the same it has provided some valuable exposure to the pink ball for South Africa’s batsmen. They will also play a two-day game next week against South Australia with the red ball before the first Test at the WACA.
The Perth and Hobart Tests will be played as day matches, but the third Test at Adelaide Oval will be a day-night fixture, and pink-ball cricket is new to most of the South African players. In addition to this game against the CA XI, they will also play a two-day pink-ball game against Victoria at the MCG starting on November 19, between the second and third Tests.
The early signs were encouraging for South Africa’s key Test batsmen, although Stephen Cook and Rilee Rossouw both fell in single figures to leave their side at 2 for 19 within the first five overs of the game. But Dean Elgar and Amla steadied and found the going somewhat easier, until Elgar departed for 43 and Amla retired on 51 to give the rest of the batsmen some time at the crease.
Faf du Plessis was caught off the bowling of offspinner Arjun Nair for 8, and Temba Bavuma on 11 became the second victim for Nair, but then came a 167-run partnership between Duminy and de Kock. Batting at No.8, de Kock wasted little time and struck 16 fours and three sixes on his way to 122 from 103 balls, before he too retired.
Duminy’s runs did not come quite as quickly, but he still struck 10 boundaries on his way to 97, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Ryan Lees. Vernon Philander made 34 as the South Africans moved along to 415 before being dismissed in their 90th over.
“It took some getting used to out there with the pink ball but the wicket was quite nice so it made life a bit easier,” de Kock told reporters after play. “It was a new experience and quite nice to be part of it.”
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo