Hermann and Hamza power SA 'A' to victory

Unbeaten half-centuries from Jordan Hermann and Zubayr Hamza guided South Africa ‘A’ (SA ‘A’) to a dominant eight-wicket victory over the England Lions in the first four-day match on Monday. The win at Arundel Castle Cricket Club Ground puts the visitors 1-0 up in the two-match series. 

SA ‘A’ resumed the final day comfortably on 122/1, needing a further 92 to win. Lesego Senokwane (55) was the solitary wicket to fall, adding four runs to his overnight score before Eddie Jack (1/39) bowled the right-hander in the second over of the morning. 

Hamza then joined Hermann to wrap up the chase inside 12 overs. Hermann finished on 70 off 122 balls (12x4, 1x6), having brought his fifty up in style with a slog-sweep six. Meanwhile, Hamza (54*) provided the fireworks, racing to a 40-ball fifty that included a 21-run over. 

The sides head to Beckenham for the second match, which gets underway on Friday at the Kent County Cricket Ground.

South Africa A Four-Day Squad against England Lions

Marques Ackerman (captain, Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Ottneil Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tony de Zorzi (WSB Western Province), Bjorn Fortuin (DP World Lions), Zubayr Hamza (DP World Lions), Jordan Hermann (Dafabet Warriors), Rubin Hermann (North West Dragons), Nqobani Mokoena (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Dane Paterson (WSB Western Province), Sinethemba Qeshile (Dafabet Warriors), Lesego Senokwane (Momentum Multiply Titans), Jason Smith (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Prenelan Subrayen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tiaan van Vuuren (Flexbrand Knights) and Codi Yusuf (DP World Lions).

South Africa A One-Day squad against England Lions

Marques Ackerman (captain, Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Ottneil Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Gerald Coetzee (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tony de Zorzi (WSB Western Province), Connor Esterhuizen (DP World Lions), Dian Forrester (North West Dragons), Bjorn Fortuin (DP World Lions), Rubin Hermann (North West Dragons), Kwena Maphaka (DP World Lions), Nqobani Mokoena (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Nqaba Peter (DP World Lions), Lhuan-dré Pretorius (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sinethemba Qeshile (Warriors), Jason Smith (Hollywoodbets Dolphins) and Prenelan Subrayen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).

Management

Wandile Gwavu (Head Coach), Riaan Osman (Manager), Justin Ontong (Batting Coach), Rory Kleinveldt (Bowling Coach), Jimmy Kgamadi (Fielding Coach), Laden Gamiet (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Brent Martin (Physiotherapist) and Kushen Kishun (Team Analyst).

Fixtures

Four-Day Series

22-25 May at 11am (12pm SAST) - Arundel Castle Cricket Club Ground, Arundel (SA won by eight wickets)

29 May-1 June at 11am (12pm SAST) - The Kent County Cricket Ground, Beckenham

One-Day Series

Friday, 5 June at 11am (12pm SAST) - Grace Road, Leicester

Sunday, 7 June at 11am (12pm SAST) - New Road, Worcester

Tuesday, 9 June at 11am (12pm SAST) - New Road, Worcester