Johannesburg – Dwaine Pretorius and Dane Piedt grabbed three wickets apiece to help South Africa A close day three of the first four-day Test against Zimbabwe A well-placed in Harare on Monday.
All-rounder Pretorius, who struck a blistering 83-ball 89 on day two, followed that up with 3/38 in 19 overs as the hosts were bowled out for 269 – a massive 186 behind the tourists’ first-innings 455/6 declared. Piedt also finished with three wickets, claiming 3/82.
By the close, the South Africans had extended that gap to 307 after going to stumps on 121/2.
Apart from Pretorius and Piedt, there was another big positive for the visitors after Vernon Philander picked up his first wickets in national colours since November as he bagged 2/35 in 18 overs.
The Proteas star had been sidelined for the past eight months with an ankle problem.
South Africa’s second innings was 25 overs old by the end, with Victor Nyauchi claiming 2/26 to ensure Zimbabwe were still fighting.
Captain Stephen Cook (30) and Heino Kuhn (25) were his two victims, with Theunis de Bruyn (38) and Stiaan van Zyl (25) unbeaten at the close. – African News Agency (ANA)