The Proteas got their limited-over series tour of Australia off to the worst start possible, losing to a Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra on Wednesday.
Fielding an almost full-strength side against a motley crew, coach Ottis Gibson’s manne could muster just 173 after being bowled out in 42 overs.
Opener Aiden Markram (47) and David Miller (45) were the only resistance after skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and asked to bat.
With SA on 119/7 after Miller departed, a late stand by Dale Steyn and an unbeaten 28 by Kagiso Rabada helped the tourists over the 150 mark.
The SA bowling department also struggled, with Steyn going for 1/41 in seven overs and Rabada 2/41 in eight overs and Imran Tahir (1/47 in 10) as the Aussies reached the winning score with over 13 overs left.
WORRY: Coach Ottis Gibson. Photo: CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX
Only Lungi Ngidi put in a decent spell with 2/16 in his six overs.
Markram says it’s a reality check before the team show up the Waca in Perth for of the first of three ODIs this Sunday.
He reckons: “It was not ideal. It would have been nice to get off to a winning start and for the batsmen to find some form.
“For us, it is about what we want to get out of a game like this.
“From this game guys can see how much work still needs to be done going into the first ODI.
“We can fine-tune it going forward and hopefully when the first game comes we are hitting our straps.”