On a day that cast a gloomy cloud over Caribbean cricket, West Indies A suffered a 42-run defeat to South Africa A in their first One-Day match in St. Lucia at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, which completed a hat-trick of losses for the region’s teams across formats and venues on Wednesday.
While the senior men’s side crumbled to a 124-run loss to Ireland in their ODI series opener in Dublin, and the women’s team were brushed aside by England in a T20I in Canterbury, the A-team’s spirited chase under the St. Lucian lights fell short despite flashes of resilience.
Having won the toss and opted to field in the day-night fixture, West Indies A allowed South Africa A to pile up 283 before being dismissed for 241 in 44.1 overs.
South Africa A’s innings was underpinned by a series of timely contributions, none more crucial than a trio of half-centuries from Jordan Hermann (53), Sinethemba Qeshile (55), and Jason Smith, who unleashed a counter-attacking 55 off just 44 balls, including three fours and three sixes.
Their knock was matched in flair by Rivaldo Moonsamy, who struck five fours and two sixes in a composed 49.
The West Indies A bowlers started well, as Jediah Blades removed Lesego Senokwane (four) in the second over with nine runs on the board. However, Moonsamy and Hermann steadied the innings with a 93-run second-wicket stand and gradually applied pressure on the Caribbean bowlers.
But when Darel Cyrus ended Hermann’s 47-ball knock, which had eight fours and a six, Kevlon Anderson followed up with the wickets of captain Marques Ackerman (four) and Moonsamy, as South Africa A slipped to 125 for four.
Qeshile and Smith swung the momentum back in the visitor’s favour with an 85-run stand that pushed them past the 200-run mark.
However, the momentum again shifted when Blades accounted for Smith and Bjorn Fortuin (one), while Kadeem Alleyne removed Qeshile and Tristan Luus (16) after Marquinho Mindley dismissed Mihlali Mpongwana for four, as South Africa lost their remaining wickets with little resistance.
Blades ended with three for 39, while Alleyne and Anderson had similar figures of two for 44 in seven overs.
The West Indies A began their chase tentatively, as they lost Alleyne (17) with 24 runs on the board at the end of the power play. However, Captain Alick Athanaze’s 33 spearheaded a 61-run second-wicket stand with Anderson before he was removed by Mihlali Mpongwana.
Anderson, who had six boundaries in a fluent 47-ball 45, followed shortly after, and from there, West Indies A suffered a familiar sharp slide to 123 for five.
Kevin Wickham followed up with a sprightly 39, while wicketkeeper Kemol Savory (26) and tailenders Darel Cyrus (28) and Marquino Mindley (27) injected late life into the innings.
The innings was defined by a recurring failure to stitch substantial partnerships, with wickets falling in clumps just as momentum was building.
By the time Cyrus and Mindley produced a late rally with a 60-run ninth-wicket stand, it was not enough, as the middle-order collapse proved fatal.
South Africa A’s bowlers shared the spoils efficiently, led by Mpongwana’s three for 37, while the experienced Bjorn Fortuin (2-45) and Tshepo Moreki (2-20) offered support.
