O'Keefe stars on return

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Watch any highlight reel from day one at Tony Ireland Stadium and it will almost certainly feature Matthew Wade's spectacular catch in close to end a terrific knock from South Africa A skipper Justin Ontong as the sun set on a grinding day of first-class cricket in Townsville.

What you won't see, however, are the five dot balls that preceded Stephen O'Keefe's second wicket of the day.

The wicket of Ontong (86) came on the final ball of the day's penultimate over, after O'Keefe set him up with a textbook over of left-arm orthodox coming from around the wicket.

The first four balls of the over pitched around middle and off stump with the batsman simply able to get on the front foot to defend with stumps at the forefront of Ontong's thinking.

New Australia A captain Phil Hughes then moved himself alongside Matthew Wade in close on the leg-side with two balls to come in the over.

O'Keefe, impressive all day with his control, tossed one out a little wider of off stump where Ontong simply stepped forward and defended once again.

The final ball of the over was a little bit straighter, a little bit quicker. The opposing skipper went to play the same shot as the ball before only for it to find the inside edge and pop wide of Wade, where the Victorian reacted and stretched wide to his right for a catch that would have made the great David Boon proud.

Quick Single: Sandhu to the fore in Townsville

It was deserved reward for O'Keefe in his first competitive hit-out since undergoing a shoulder reconstruction shortly after the Bupa Sheffield Shield final in March.

Last season's leading Shield wicket-taker impressed with his discipline and control throughout the day, claiming a miserly 2-40 from 21 overs including the crucial late wicket.

"He was ready to go last night I reckon," NSW Blues and Australia A teammate Gurinder Sandhu told cricket.com.au

"I don't think he would have slept, but it was good to see him out there having fun and grab a couple of wickets to finish off the day.

"He likes to support everyone, he's there for the team and he puts his body on the line in the field.

"With the bowling, he'll go all day and then just like that he'll get his reward because he just knows what to do."

O'Keefe's stellar form last summer, as well as the spin-friendly conditions expected in the UAE, has some tipping his left-arm orthodox to accompany the off-spin of Nathan Lyon for October's tour against Pakistan.

Speaking to cricket.com.au ahead of the first match in Townsville last week, O'Keefe was trying not to get too ahead of himself despite boasting a first-class record of 128 wickets at an average of 24.45.

"It's every kid's dream to play for Australia," said O'Keefe.

"The goal posts are going to change between now and then I'm sure, so this (Aus A tour) is just one step to hopefully getting to play for Australia one day.

"I haven't got my eyes set on that at the moment, I've got to fully test myself out in the middle."

His performance today on the back of a five-month layoff will have done his chances no harm, especially with National Selection Panel chairman Rod Marsh watching on.

While all the bowlers maintained a disciplined bowling plan throughout the day, it was Sandhu who got the rewards with 3-60 off 20 overs to go with his four wickets in the previous match.

The tourists were in trouble at 3-56 shortly after lunch, but a 78-run partnership between Temba Bavuma and Ontong helped steady the ship, even if the ship had to almost come to a stop to do so with the run rate hovering around two-an-over for the first half of the day.

Ontong then combined with Farhaan Behardien (35no) to help pick up the pace, to some extent, in an 82-run partnership before Wade's diving effort brought that to an end.

Victoria Bushrangers seamer Clint McKay, a late addition to the 'A' squad for Michael Neser, bowled well without reward to finish the day with eight maidens in his 0-34 off 20 overs.

While heavy rainand thunderstorms have been forecast across the next two days in Townsville, Sandhu says the players aren't letting the weather affect their plans moving into day two.

"Sometimes the forecast isn't exactly what it is," Sandhu said after play.

"You've just got to play and if it rains, then it rains, and if it doesn't, it doesn't."