The Australian Prime Minister’s XI beat the Proteas by four wickets in Canberra on Wednesday.
A weak day with the bat saw the Proteas skittled for 173 in 42 overs, with 47 from Aiden Markram and 45 from David Miller being the visitors’ top scores.
A cameo 20 from Dale Steyn and 28 from Kagiso Rabada covered up the awful collapse that saw the Proteas five down for 85 in 17 overs and then 100-6 two balls into the 22nd over.
Australia’s Jason Behrendorff took 3-35 and Pakistan-born spinner Usman Qadir took 2-28, causing the visitors their most issues, while Blake L Edwards (2-43) contributed with two wickets. A wicket apiece from Ben Dwarshui and Jason Sangha completed the Proteas’ demise.
The Proteas bowlers fought back well through Lungi Ngidi (2-16), Rabada (2-41), Steyn (1-41) and Tahir (1-47) to set back the hosts at 87-5 in the 17th over and eventually 164-6, but the match was all but done with the fall of the sixth wicket.
Half-centuries from Josh Philippe (57) and George Bailey (51 not out) were enough to hand the Prime Minister XI the victory, while Sangha’s 38 also helped his side’s cause.
Photo: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images
