A career-best 186 by Sinethemba Qeshile and a maiden ton from Tiaan van Vuuren gave South Africa A hope of pushing for victory on the final day of the second four-day match against New Zealand A at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old wicketkeeper struck 25 fours and four sixes in a brisk innings that eclipsed his previous first-class best of 124* and helped the hosts post 578-8 declared.
All-rounder Van Vuuren played a key supporting role with a four-day best 120 off 115 balls (10 fours, seven sixes) as the pair put on 250 for the seventh wicket.
That gave SA A a first-innings lead of 96 before the tourists reached stumps on 23-0, still trailing by 73.
The South Africans will be aiming to level the series after losing the first match by 185 runs, and will take confidence from their dominant day with the bat.
WATCH LIVE: SA A vs NZ A (Match 2, Day 4)
They began day three on 159-2 with Lesego Senokwane unbeaten on 65 and captain Marques Ackerman on 23. Their 71-run stand ended when Senokwane (70) was trapped lbw by Adithya Ashok (3-173), who also removed Jason Smith (seven) soon after.
Ackerman struck a fluent 83 off 93 balls (10 fours) before falling to Jayden Lennox (2-144), while Mihlali Mpongwana made nine.
Qeshile and Van Vuuren then took charge, carrying their side from 277-6 to 527 before Qeshile was dismissed. The declaration followed soon after Van Vuuren’s dismissal as the hosts pushed for quick runs.
Joe Carter (23*) and Rhys Mariu (nought not out) safely negotiated the final 10 overs of the day to take the match into the decider.
Photo: @ProteasMenCSA/X
