Shaun Marsh leads Australians to warm-up win on South Africa tour

Marsh made 39 not out as the tourists chased down a target of 140 in 29.3 overs to win the three-day match.

File photo of Australian batsman Shaun Marsh (Reuters)

Shaun Marsh guided the touring Australians to a five-wicket win over South Africa A at Willowmoore Park on Saturday. Marsh made 39 not out as the tourists chased down a target of 140 in 29.3 overs, winning with 5.3 overs to spare.

Of concern for the Australians was that Cameron Bancroft, who made 45 in the first innings, and Marsh were the only top-order batsmen to reach 30 during a match in which seam bowlers held sway.

With his team needing to score reasonably quickly, captain Steve Smith slammed 25 off 13 balls, with three fours and two sixes.

Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc had a good pre-Test work-out, taking four top-order wickets for 46 runs in 15 overs.

With South Africa`s Test squad having been announced in the morning, he gave new squad member Wiaan Mulder a torrid welcome, with several hostile short-pitched deliveries.

Mulder made only five before he fell LBW to Mitchell Marsh.

Australia`s progress was held up by an eighth-wicket stand of 81 off 64 between Shaun von Berg (52) and Malusi Siboto (32).

With Smith deciding his fast bowlers had done enough work, Von Berg and Siboto attacked the spin of Nathan Lyon and Smith before the last three wickets fell for no runs in ten balls.

Brief Scores

South Africa A: 220 and 248 (P Malan 34, S Muthusamy 34, S von Berg 52, M Siboto 32; M Starc 4/46, M Marsh 2/35, S Smith 2/22)
Australians: 329 and 140/5 (S Marsh 39 not out, D Olivier 4/74)