GROS ISLET – Fast bowlers Mih­lali Mpong­wana and Tshe­po More­ki put South Africa ‘A’ in prime po­si­tion on Tues­day to push for vic­to­ry against West In­dies ‘A’ on Wednes­day’s fi­nal day in the sec­ond un­of­fi­cial ‘Test’ match at the Daren Sam­my Na­tion­al Crick­et Sta­di­um in St Lu­cia.

Af­ter se­cur­ing a cru­cial first in­nings lead of 112, Mpong­wana and More­ki then shared sev­en wick­ets be­tween them to dis­miss West In­dies ‘A’ for a pal­try 211 in their sec­ond in­nings.

Re­quir­ing just 100 runs for vic­to­ry, South Africa ‘A’ end­ed the third day on 68 for two, need­ing on­ly 32 more runs to sweep the two-match se­ries.

South Africa ‘A’ added just eight runs to their overnight to­tal of 324 for sev­en to be dis­missed for 332.

Schalk En­gel­brecht was dis­missed by Shamar Joseph with­out adding a run to his overnight to­tal of 77, while Ru­an de Swardt, who be­gan the day on 83, added three runs be­fore los­ing his wick­et to An­der­son Phillip.

For West In­dies ‘A’ Phillip end­ed with 5-67 while Justin Greaves took 2-48.

Open­er John Camp­bell then hit a res­olute 59 off 86 balls, but got lit­tle help from the top or­der as Kraigg Brath­waite and Al­ick Athanaze made ducks, while Kevlon An­der­son made 20, Jew­el An­drew 12 and Tevin Im­lach went for 10 as the home side found them­selves pre­car­i­ous­ly placed at 113 for six.

It took an un­beat­en knock of 39 from cap­tain Jomel War­ri­can, 34 from last man Jo­hann Layne and 20 from Joseph to get them to their even­tu­al to­tal.

Mpong­wana claimed 4-52, More­ki 3-51, while Okuh­le Cele chipped in with 2-26.

Shamar Joseph claimed the wick­ets of Lesego Senok­wane and Jor­dan Her­mann to leave South Africa 30 for two, but Mar­ques Ack­er­man (20 not out) and Sinethem­ba Qeshile (19 not out) stead­ied the ship.

Joseph has so far tak­en 2-40.

CMC

Brief scores

WEST IN­DIES ‘A’ 220 & 211 in 54.4 overs (John Camp­bell 59, Jomel War­ri­can 39 not out, Jo­hann Layne 34, Kevlon An­der­son 20, Shamar Joseph 20, Jew­el An­drew 12, Justin Greaves 10, Tevin Im­lach 10; Mih­lali Mpong­wana 4-52, Tshe­po More­ki 3-51, Okuh­le Cele 2-26).

SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ 332 & 68-2 (Mar­ques Ack­er­man 20 not out, Lesego Senok­wane 19, Sinethem­ba Qeshile 19 not out; Shamar Joseph 2-40).