Ngidi, Coetzee hit their stride to put Proteas in pole position against Australia XI

Lungi Ngidi and Gerald Coetzee claimed three wickets each to put the Proteas in a profitable position on the second day of their only warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Saturday.

The South Africans reached stumps on 9/0 in the second innings of the four-day game, having being bowled out for 347 at the start of the second day.

SCORECARD | Tour match: Proteas v Cricket Australia XI - Day 2

They then bowled out the hosts for 226, which gave the side a handy overall lead of 130 heading into the second innings.

The Proteas started proceedings by losing their last three wickets for 12 runs, with the impressive Kyle Verreynne eventually dismissed for 80 off 105 balls (14 fours and a six).

But the bowlers then impressed in their first outing of the tour when they restricted the home side to a deficit of 121, with only two batters amongst the opposition crossing 11.

The two opposition standout performers were unbeaten centurion Campbell Kellaway (105 off 186 balls, 13 fours) and Jake Doran (78 off 105 balls, 9 fours, a six).

All other Australia XI batters struggled with Ngidi’s early wickets, which put the hosts under plenty of early pressure.

The pacer, South Africa’s best bowler with 3/26, along with Kagiso Rabada (1/33) helped reduce the hosts to 25/4, before the major partnership of the innings rescued the score to 168.

Marco Jansen (1/35) eventually ended that stand, with Keshav Maharaj (2/49) and rookie Coetzee (3/36) cleaning up the tail.

Captain and first-innings centurion Dean Elgar was unbeaten on six at the close with Sarel Erwee (2) alongside him at stumps.