Johannesburg – Colin Ingram scored an unbeaten 89 to guide South Africa A to a narrow two-wicket victory over Zimbabwe A in the triangular limited overs tournament at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
It puts the South Africans in a strong position as they won their first match against Sri Lanka A by a massive 161 runs (with a bonus point) on the back of a 152-run fifth wicket partnership between Reeza Hendricks and Justin Ontong.
Zimbabwe also won their opening match against Sri Lanka.
South Africa looked as though they might struggle to match Zimbabwe's total of 242/6 when Wayne Parnell was seventh man out at 182 with 61 runs needed off 64 balls but Rory Kleinveldt continued his impressive recent run of form to provide the partner that Ingram needed.
Kleinveldt scored a typically big-hitting 40 off 25 balls (4 fours and 3 sixes) out of an eighth wicket partnership of 60. He was dismissed with the scores level before Kyle Abbott ran a leg bye to complete the victory.
Ingram's 89 came off 115 balls with 8 fours and a six.
Thanks to Kleinveldt's effort South Africa won with a comfortable four overs to spare.
Sikandar Raza (81 off 89 balls) and captainTina Mamoyo (52) were the outstanding batsmen for Zimbabwe while the two South African left-arm spinners, Aaron Phangiso and Dean Elgar, took two wickets each. – Sapa