Australia A cricketers beat Sth Africa A

Australia A have beaten South Africa A by 197 runs to open their pink-ball winter series on a high at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.

After the hosts declared at 7-248 following Monday's third day, South Africa A were never in the hunt for the 361-run victory target, being dismissed for 163.

The Australia A pace attack of Chris Tremain, Dan Worrall and Joe Mennie took the attack to the visitors from the opening over, with South Australian quick Worrall snapping up two wickets in Tuesday's first over.

Fellow Redbacks paceman Joe Mennie took player of the match honours, with a second-innings haul of 5-38 from 12.4 overs.

Worrall (2-46) took two wickets in three balls to start the innings and Mennie claimed two wickets in four balls to end the game.

It was the second five-wicket haul of the game for the Australia A bowlers with Tremain taking 5-75 in the first innings.

The combination of cloud cover and a new pink ball ensured the Australian side had the upper hand from the outset.

Promising South African allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo showed his class, with the 20-year-old top-scoring with a feisty 55 before he fell to legspinner Mitch Swepson.

Showers forced a 50-minute delay, but Australia still wrapped up the result on the stroke of the re-scheduled tea break.

The two teams will travel to Townsville to meet in the second four-day game of the series from Saturday at Tony Ireland Stadium.