AFP
Melbourne, Australia
South Africa were beaten by 53 runs by a Victorian XI in their 50-over day-night tour warm-up game on Saturday as their final preparation for next week's third Test against Australia in Adelaide.
Hashim Amla scored an unbeaten 81 and Dean Elgar 40 retired out in the tourists 205 for four, chasing Victoria's 258 all out. The Proteas originally had a two-day planned against the Victorian team at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but opted for a one-dayer under Test rather than one-day rules to enable them to get to Adelaide earlier.
Captain Faf du Plessis, facing an ICC hearing for alleged ball tampering during the second Hobart Test against Australia, won the toss and elected to bowl first and then spend time in the middle under lights to adapt to match conditions with the pink ball ahead of the third Test.
Left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi boosted his chances of a Test debut by capturing four for 72 from 12 overs, while young gun fast bowler Kagiso Rababa claimed three for three for 37 off four overs. Shamsi took three for 36 at home in a one-dayer against Australia last October and is delighted with talk the Australians have struggled to pick some of his deliveries.
"That's a theory going around - you can't necessarily say it's a given thing, it's not a proven thing," he said. "I'm really happy with the way I've gone personally against them. Hopefully it continues."
Shamsi said the tourists had adapted well to the pink ball and were happy ahead of Adelaide. "Some people say there are difficulties seeing it, but I think the guys have done enough practice with it, just to pick it up," Shamsi said. "So it's not too bad. "We've had enough practice with it and we're happy to move forward."
Young Victorian batsmen Seb Gotch (53) and Matthew Short (52) provided the backbone of the Victorian innings before allrounder Evan Gulbis smashed 53 from 28 balls at No 8.
BRIEF SCORES
Victoria XI 258 (S Gotch 53, E Gulbis 53, M Short 52; T Shamsi 4-72, K.Rabada 3-37) beat South Africa 205-4 (H Amla 81 not out, D Elgat 40 retired out; J Coleman 2-26) by 53 runs
