WA v South Africa: Day One

Adam Voges, the 26-year-old Western Australia right-hander, made the touring South Africans toil in the field on the first day of their warm-up match in Perth. Voges added 146 with ‘A’ international batsman Marcus North as the home side racked up 306 for five against a first-choice Proteas’ bowling attack.

The South Africans, choosing to field first under the leadership of ‘keeper Mark Boucher in the absence of both captain Graeme Smith and his deputy Jaques Kallis, made early inroads as the home side entered a post lunch rain break at 73 for three.

But North and Voges, and later David Bandy, who struck his maiden half-century, upheld a perhaps tired Springbok side possibly suffering from hard-fought series against New Zealand and India. Shaun Pollock was his usual miserly self, conceding just 27 runs from nineteen pin-point overs.

Charl Langeveldt took two wickets, including that of the Western Australia captain, Justin Langer, but was expensive, as was Andre Nel who also snared a solitary victim. The long-awaited wicket of Voges fell to the left-arm spin of Nicky Boje.

Jaques Kallis was earlier ruled out of the three-day encounter after damaging a tendon in his left elbow, apparently sustained whilst in the nets in India. It is hoped he will be fit for the second tour match against in Perth on December 11.