(BBC) Ravi Bopara was out cheaply as South Africa beat Gloucestershire by three wickets in a 50-over match at Bristol yesterday.
Essex batsman Bopara, playing for Gloucestershire to get some practice ahead of England’s one-day series against the Proteas, made just three runs in Gloucestershire’s total of 261.
Dan Housego, 23, top scored for Gloucestershire with 132 off 136 balls before he was bowled by Ryan McLaren.
A much-changed South Africa team chased down the total with an over to spare.
Bopara, 27, pulled out of the second Test for personal reasons but has been named in the squad to face the Proteas in the ODI series, which starts at Cardiff on Friday.
His county Essex were not in action this week, so England national selector Geoff Miller asked Gloucestershire to select him for Wednesday’s tour match to give him some time at the crease.
Bopara made just three runs from 14 deliveries before he was caught behind by South Africa wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile off the bowling of McLaren. McLaren was the pick of the tourists’ bowlers, finishing with 3-29.
All-rounder Bopara was among the wickets, however, taking 3-43 in his 10 overs.
South Africa, who fielded just Hashim Amla and Imran Tahir from the team which won the third Test at Lord’s on Monday, knocked off the runs comfortably.
Amla made 32 at the top of the order as all-rounders Albie Morkel and Wayne Parnell top-scored with 41, before Robin Peterson hit the final ball of the penultimate over for four to complete the win.
