Australia A v South Africa A: Mitch Swepson and Peter Handscomb push case for Test selection
AS Australia’s spin woes have them staring down the barrel of a whitewash in Sri Lanka, a young leggie has bowled Australia A to a series sweep on home soil.
AS Australia’s spin woes have them staring down the barrel of a 3-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka, a young leggie has bowled Australia A to a series sweep on home soil.
Queenslander legspinner Mitchell Swepson was the day-four star as Australia beat South Africa A by 10 wickets on Tuesday in Townsville.
The 22-year-old claimed 4-31 in the tourists’ second innings and seven wickets for the match.
It’s a timely haul for the Bulls’ leggie, with frontline spinner Nathan Lyon and second stringer Jon Holland struggling to make a substantial mark on the subcontinent following an injury to Steve O’Keefe.
Swepson helped skittle South Africa A for just 180 in their second dig, leaving Australia A a meagre 83-run chase late on day four.
Openers Kurtis Patterson (50no) and Cameron Bancroft (38no) hit the Aussies to victory in less than 15 overs.
Earlier, Joe Mennie took 5-61 to bowl South Africa A out for 304 in their first innings, while Swepson chimed in with three wickets. Australia responded with 402, with Victoria’s Peter Handscomb notching a career-best 137.
SHAKE UP: No batsman safe from Lehmann’s axe
REMEDY: How Shield time machine can fix spin woes
The South African side, headlined by Proteas Dean Elgar and Wayne Parnell, then crumbled on day four.
However, it was a far-from-fruitful match for dumped Australian allrounder Glenn Maxwell, who finished with just two wickets from 36 overs and 16 runs to his name.
Australia A claimed the opening four-day match by 197 runs last week in Brisbane.
The two teams will be joined India A and a national performance squad for a one-day quadrangular series from Sunday.
Originally published as Australia A v South Africa A: Mitch Swepson and Peter Handscomb push case for Test selection