South Africa ended their batting practice at the SCG early on the third and final day of their tour match with Australia A, declaring at 6-277 at tea on Sunday.
The decision, in a game that they are simply using as match practice ahead of Friday’s Gabba Test, allows the Proteas’ bowling attack to have 27 overs at the hosts.
On a pitch that is offering very little assistance to the bowlers, South Africa will be seeking a better return than their first innings when Australia A piled on 7(dec)-480 on the back of an unbeaten 161 to unheralded Tasmanian Alex Doolan.
Highlighting their attitude to the game, the visitors’ two most impressive batsmen in the match, Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla, both retired soon after reaching their half centuries to give teammates a chance to bat.
On Saturday, Smith fell on his sword after reaching 60, and Amla followed suit on Sunday, pulling the pin after chalking up 53 runs in response to Australia A’s massive total.
The tactic appeared to work, with Test certainties Jacques Rudolph (39), JP Duminy (31) and AB de Villiers (24) all getting starts and blowing out the cobwebs before Friday’s Gabba Test, while fringe batsman Faf du Plessis hit an unbeaten 24.
Part-time spinner Glenn Maxwell added to his wicket of Alviro Petersen (38) on Saturday by removing Rudolph just before tea on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Victorian enticed an edge from Rudolph which was snapped up by John Hastings at first slip.
Maxwell returned the favour by taking the catch which ended de Villiers’ innings, off the bowling of economical paceman Hastings who had figures of 1-32 off 23 overs at the tea break.
Earlier, Australia A skipper Andrew McDonald made the first real breakthrough of the day when he had JP Duminy chopping onto his stumps for 31.