Colombo, Sri Lanka – South Africa’s Over-50s side suffered a narrow defeat in their opening match of the Over-50s Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka, falling short against a resilient West Indies team by 18 runs in a tightly contested clash at the St Thomas’s Grounds – Mt Lavinia.
Captain Mario Solomons won the toss and opted to bowl first, looking to capitalize on early morning conditions. The Proteas’ bowlers, led by an inspired Wiaan Smit, started with intent, keeping the West Indies batters under control for large portions of their innings. However, a brilliant unbeaten century by wicketkeeper Anthony Sahadeo (101* off 113 balls) anchored the Caribbean side to a competitive total of 199/8 in 45 overs.
Smit’s Sensational Spell Keeps Windies in Check
South Africa’s new-ball attack kept things tight early on, with Deon Kruis removing Terrence Romain for just 7. But it was Wiaan Smit who stole the show, running through the West Indies middle order with a superb spell of 5/21 in 9 overs—a standout performance that had the Proteas in control at 117/6 in the 30th over.
Smit accounted for four of the first six wickets, dismissing Ishwar Maraj (7), Deonarine Deyal (14), Julian Boyce (4), and Sudesh Persaud (0) in a masterclass of control and accuracy. But despite his heroics, the Proteas were unable to break Sahadeo’s resilience as he guided his team towards the 200-mark with support from skipper Zamin Amin, who smashed 26 off 21 balls in the final overs.
The South Africans gave away 18 wides, adding pressure on their own bowlers, while Sahadeo played a pivotal role in punishing loose deliveries with 12 fours and a six in his century.
South Africa’s Chase Falters Despite Jiwa’s Heroics
Chasing 200 for victory, South Africa got off to a rocky start, losing Wiaan Smit early for 5. But veteran opener Yahya Jiwa steadied the innings with a solid 55 off 71 balls, combining with Munier Holiday (19) to take the score to 84/2 by the 22nd over.
However, just as the Proteas seemed to be settling into their chase, wickets began tumbling at crucial moments. Jiwa’s departure at 98/3 was followed by a middle-order collapse, with Craig Lyons (1), captain Mario Solomons (8), and Russel Krug (2) all falling cheaply.
Despite a fighting 42 from Dave Bakker, the South African tail was unable to withstand the West Indian spin attack, as Sudesh Persaud (3/26) and Fareed Hosein (3/37) tightened the screws. The final three wickets fell in quick succession, and the Proteas were bowled out for 181 in 42 overs, falling 18 runs short of their target.
Key Moments That Decided the Match:
- Sahadeo’s Century – The West Indies wicketkeeper played a lone hand, holding the innings together with a match-winning 101*.
- Smit’s Five-Wicket Haul – A brilliant spell from the Proteas bowler gave South Africa early control, but lack of support allowed the West Indies to recover.
- Middle-Order Collapse – South Africa lost crucial wickets at key intervals, failing to build momentum after a promising start.
- Persaud and Hosein’s Impact – The Windies’ bowlers kept the Proteas in check, taking six wickets between them and restricting the run rate effectively.
Captain Solomons: "We Will Come Back Stronger"
After the match, South Africa’s captain Mario Solomons remained upbeat despite the result, emphasizing that the tournament is still long and the team is eager to bounce back.
“We played our first match against West Indies, didn’t go our way this time, still a long tournament ahead. The boys are positive, and I think it’s also a nice wake-up call for us. Getting used to the conditions, the guys are very positive, and we are definitely going to come back stronger. And from myself and the team, thank you so much for all the support and belief in us. Next game, we are going to make you proud,” Solomons assured fans.
Further discussions with players revealed a determined mindset within the squad. “We learned some very hard lessons, but the team came together after the match and some really good team conversations were had. The guys are focused and ready to fight!” said one member of the squad, echoing the team’s motivation to turn things around.
What’s Next for the Proteas?
Despite the loss, there were positives for South Africa to take into their next game. Smit’s all-round efforts, Jiwa’s fluent fifty, and Bakker’s resilience showed that the team has the firepower to compete. However, they will need to tighten their bowling discipline and strengthen their middle-order batting to stay in contention for the knockout stages.
With more matches to come in this Over-50s Cricket World Cup, the Proteas will be looking to bounce back strong in their next fixture as they aim to make a mark on the tournament. Their determination and fighting spirit remain intact, and fans can expect a strong response in the games ahead.
South Africa will face Australia next on the 12th February at The Burgher Recreation Club in Colombia.
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