The Proteas Tune Up

South Africa have enjoyed a good hit out before their participation in the VB one day triangular tournament in playing the Queensland Academy of Sport at the Allan Border field in Brisbane.

Graham Smith won the toss an elected to bat. Boeta Dippenaar was dismissed early for just one, and was quickly followed by the in-form Herschelle Gibbs who was bowled for five. At 15/2 South Africa were struggling in the face of some spirited bowling by Nathan Rimmington and Gregory Schossow.

Enter the man for a crisis Jacques Kallis whom with the help of the captain slowly put the Proteas back on track. When Smith was dismissed for 24 (70 balls) South Africa were still in trouble at 59/3, but Kallis and Ashwell Prince kept up the watchful vigil eschewing risks, with punishing anything loose.

After Prince was run out for a sedate 50 (72 balls) Kallis started to play a range of entertaining shots before falling to the off spin of Chris Simpson for 80 (106 balls) which included three sixes. Some big hitting from Shaun Pollock 27 (18 balls) helped South Africa post a respectable 234/7 off their 50 overs. Simpson claimed the best figures with 3/40 off his 10 overs.

A fired up Shaun Pollock quickly reduced the QAS to 16/2, before the captain Chris Simpson played a sparkling innings of 55 (48 balls) which included six boundaries and three sixes.

Unfortunately after the dismissal of Simpson (97/5) the QAS struggled with the required run rate, and were eventually dismissed for a disappointing 188. Young all-rounder Derek Tate remained unbeaten on 55 (85 balls).

The wickets were shared around giving the South African bowlers a good work out before their first game in the VB Series. Shaun Pollock claimed 2/28 (8 overs) Andrew Hall 3/23 (7 overs) and Johan Botha 3/32 (9 overs).

South Africa 234/7
Kallis 80 Prince 50
Simpson 3/40

Queensland Academy of Sport 188
Simpson 55 Tate 55*
Hall 3/23 Botha 3/32

South Africa won by 46 runs

Cricket Web Man of the Match
Chris Simpson