Cummins leads Australia recovery against South Africa A

Pat Cummins struck a second first-class fifty as Australia's tail wagged to help them to 329 all out before South Africa A ended day two 55/0, trailing by 54, at Sahara Willowmoore Park in Benoni.

Cummins, who had earlier taken 4/32 with the ball, made 59* and put on 64 for the ninth wicket with Nathan Lyon (38), while Josh Hazlewood (26) also chipped in to help the tourists recover from 178/7. After the top order had struggled, Cummins became the first player to reach a half-century in the match, while Beuran Hendricks (5/83) starred for the hosts.

South Africa A finished the day strongly before bad light prevented the final five overs from being bowled. Pieter Malan and Zubayr Hamza put on an unbroken partnership of 55, bringing the deficit down to just 54, with Mitchell Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh unable to find a breakthrough.

Australia owed a lot to their lower order, of which Cummins was the most impressive. The No.8 struck 11 fours in the second session, with Starc (18), Lyon and Hazlewood all providing able support. Cummins put on 47 with Starc before the left-hander was caught off spinner Shaun von Berg.

Lyon came to the crease and continued to attack, but he fell when he cut Beuran Hendricks to his namesake Zubryan Hendricks at point. Hazlewood's hand meant Australia took a lead of 109 into South Africa A's second innings before the hosts' openers made a steady start of whittling it down.