Arundel: Half-centuries from Lesego Senokwane, Jordan Herman and Zubair Hamza helped South Africa chase down a target of 214 to win the first unofficial Test against England Lions by eight wickets on the final day.
The visitors continued their chase from 122/1 on the final day through Senokwane and Herman, eventually hitting the winning runs with two sessions remaining to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, the final of which will be played from May 29 to June 1 at Beckenham.
Herman led the batting charge for the Proteas in the run chase and scored an unbeaten 70 off 122 balls with 12 fours and a six.
The left-handed batsman shared an unbeaten 106 and 81 with Senokwane and Hamza, who contributed 54 and 55 not outs respectively.
For the Lions, Eddie Jack and Mitchell Stanley could pick up a wicket each in the fourth innings.
Right-arm pacer Jason Smith laid the foundation for South Africa A’s win with a four-wicket haul in the first innings.
He was supported by fellow pacer Nqobani Mokoena with three wickets as the Lions were bowled out for 157 in 44.5 overs.
In turn, skipper Marquez Ackermann’s mammoth 173 helped South Africa A to a 174-run lead as the tourists piled up 331 in just 58.5 overs.
Jack and Stanley combined to lead the Lions’ bowling in the first innings, taking three wickets each, while Alfie Ogborne and Dan Mousley took two wickets each.
Centuries from opener Asa Tribe and wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Myers saw the hosts post a mammoth total of 387 in the second innings, but they could not set the Proteas a stagnant target.