Press Trust of India
Chennai, August 5: Openers Usman Khawaja (73, 82b, 9×4) and Joe Burns (63 n o, 91, 6×4, 1×6) struck sedate half centuries as Australia A cantered to a nine-wicket victory over South Africa A in the first tri-series match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here Wednesday.
Choosing to bat first, the Proteas were bowled out for 171 runs in 48.4 overs. In reply, the Aussies chased down the target with as many as 19 overs to spare.
Right-arm pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile (3/31) was the best Australian bowler as he bowled a tight line, kept the runs down and struck at regular intervals.
The Proteas were off to a solid start with Reeza Hendricks (43, 64b, 3×4, 1×6) and captain Dean Elgar (28) putting on 73 runs in 15 overs. The latter then got out but it was the dismissal of Theunis de Bruyn (17), batting at no. 3, that triggered a collapse from where South Africa A could never recover.
Besides Coulter-Nile, spinner Ashton Agar (2/26) and pacers, Cameron Boyce (2/34) and James Pattinson (2/41) played a key role in taming the opposition batsmen.
Chasing a relatively low total, Khawaja and Burns stitched together a 142-run opening partnership to take the sting out of the South African attack.
After the skipper was bowled by Hardus Viljoen (1/54), Travis Head (27, 20b, 4×4, 1×6) came down to bat and wasted no time to finish off the match in 31 overs.
