• SA A avoid clean sweep

    Reeza Hendricks and Kagiso Rabada helped the South Africa A side to win the fifth and final ODI against the England Lions in Benoni on Thursday.

    Hendricks’ scored a century (107, 128 balls) and Rabada took four wickets (4-51) to help South Africa A to a comfortable win. Jonny Bairstow and Samit Patel scored half-centuries for the Lions but it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat.

    The win made sure South Africa A lost the series 1-3 instead of 4-0. Hendricks and captain Dean Elgar shared an opening partnership of 149 in the first 29 overs which ultimately helped South Africa reach 287/6, a total which, in the end, proves more than enough to win the game. Jack Brooks (3-55) caused the most damaged for the Lions.

    The visitors were struggling at 92/4, before Bairstow and Patel came together to supply some much needed stability. Once Bairstow was removed by Elgar, the last five wickets fell for just 23 runs.