Plunkett has success on hot opening day

Yorkshire's Liam Plunkett took two wickets on a difficult day against South Africa A.

Yorkshire’s Liam Plunkett claimed two wickets for England Lions but it was the batsmen who won out as South Africa A piled on the runs on day one of the four-day tour match at Boland Park.

Playing in intense heat in Paarl, Plunkett and his fellow bowlers were made to work hard after losing the toss but made some inroads after a century opening partnership from the hosts.

However, the pitch favoured the batters and hundreds for debutants Gihahn Cloete and Theunis de Bruyn helped South Africa on their way to a score of 379-4 at stumps.

Cloete opened the innings alongside Stiaan van Zyl (65) and they enjoyed a stand of 122 before Plunkett split the pairing after lunch, finding an outside edge with Yorkshire’s Alex Lees taking the catch.

Plunkett struck again four overs later to remove Andrew Puttick for a duck, Lees again showing a safe pair of hands, but the arrival of De Bruyn spelled trouble for the tourists.

Cloete and De Bruyn quickly settled into a rhythm and added 150 for the third wicket, both passing centuries.

Boyd Rankin eventually ended Cloete’s stay on 123, the opener cutting to Sam Robson in the gully, while Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth added the wicket of Khaya Zondo for 21.

De Bruyn will resume today on 126 alongside Rudi Second, who was unbeaten on 25.