Aust A dominate day two against Proteas

A five-wicket haul from South Australian quick Joe Mennie has helped Australia A to a dominant position on day two of their tour match against South Africa A in Townsville.

The 27-year-old seamer finished with figures of 5-61 from 24 overs, with the tourists dismissed for 304.

In reply, Australia cruised to 1-181 at stumps on Sunday on the back of a brisk 86 not out from NSW opener Kurtis Patterson.

"I was quite nervous early on. I haven't opened before in first-class cricket before. But it was good fun," Patterson said after play.

Earlier, South Africa resumed on 5-203 but were quickly rocked by Mennie, who added Dane Vilas to his four scalps from day one.

Mennie's fifth first-class five-wicket haul is his second in the space of a week following a man-of-the-match performance in the series opener in Brisbane, which Australia A won by 197 runs.

The Proteas lost their last three wickets for just 14 runs as young Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson (3/55) cleaned up the tail.

Dumped Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell (1/41) toiled for 23 economical overs, picking up the solitary wicket of Wayne Parnell.

Australia lost promising opener Cameron Bancroft (28) at 1-73, but Patterson and Peter Handscomb (58 not out) combined for an 108-run unbeaten stand.

The pair will resume when day three begins on Monday.