Ndwandwa helps bowl SA Invitational XI to big win

Tsepo Ndwandwa starred with three wickets to help SA Invitational XI secure a dominant 284-run win over England Lions on day three of their four-day match at the Western Province Cricket Club in Cape Town on Thursday.

The slow left-armer claimed 3/23 in just 6.5 overs, three of which were maidens, and was well supported by Codi Yusuf (2/22) and Ruan de Swardt (2/11) as the tourists were left stunned – blown away for 107 in 29.5 overs.

The away side were chasing an unlikely 391 for victory after the home side were earlier bowled out for 256 in their second innings when they lost their last six wickets for 66.

However, that total, built around an attacking 131 off 134 balls by Jordan Hermann (15x4, 4x6) proved too big for the English.

The South Africans had started out the day with Hermann and Andile Mogakane (6) together. But they lost the latter early on followed by De Swardt (5). Corbin Bosch wasted little time in his 33 off 45 balls, though wickets tumbled at the other end with the hosts all out for 256 in 54.5 overs.

Patrick Brown was the best England bowler with 4/44. Even though that would have bolstered their confidence, they could do nothing to stop the South African attack.

Yusuf struck with the third delivery and was followed by De Swardt collecting two scalps of his own to leave England in a desperate position at 39 for five in the 13th over.

Kasey Aldridge (16) and Farhan Ahmed (24) saved their side some face, but they failed to deal with the home bowlers and succumbed to a heavy defeat.