BRC GROUND, Colombo, 12-Feb-25 – South Africa’s Over-50s cricket team put up a valiant fight but ultimately fell short against a determined Australian outfit, losing by four wickets in their second match of the IMC Over-50s Cricket World Cup. Despite an impressive knock from opener Yahya Jiwa and a captain’s innings from Mario Solomons, South Africa’s total of 264/9 was not enough to prevent Australia from chasing it down in the penultimate over.
Jiwa Sets the Tone, Solomons Steadies the Ship
Having won the toss and electing to bat first, South Africa started solidly with Yahya Jiwa playing an aggressive yet composed innings. His knock of 85 off 78 deliveries, laced with 15 boundaries, provided a strong foundation. Partnering with Wiaan Smit (26 off 41), the duo put on 95 for the first wicket, setting the tone for a competitive total.
However, Australia struck back swiftly, with James Morris and Glenn Giddings dismantling the middle order. A collapse saw South Africa lose four wickets for just 42 runs, slumping from 95/1 to 137/4. The experienced Tyron Henderson counter-attacked with a quickfire 31 off 19, but his departure left the onus on captain Mario Solomons to steer the innings.
Solomons stood tall under pressure, crafting an unbeaten 50 off 55 balls. He found support from Russel Krug (15 off 11), helping South Africa push the total to 264/9 in their 45 overs. James Morris (3/26) was the standout bowler for Australia, while Grant Dew and Glenn Giddings chipped in with two wickets each.
Australia’s Stuttering Start Before Sharp and Clark Take Control
Australia’s chase began in a measured fashion, with Ashley Hardy (23) and Tony Daly (28) guiding their side to 57 before South Africa found a breakthrough. Wiaan Smit and Con Purchase struck in quick succession, dismissing Hardy, Daly, and Andrew Kratzmann (10) to leave Australia teetering at 85/3.
Chris Holding (25) offered some resistance, but his dismissal at 103/4 in the 23rd over handed South Africa a crucial opening. However, that only set the stage for Andrew Sharp and captain Tony Clark to turn the game on its head.
Sharp’s blistering 87 off 68 deliveries, studded with seven fours and four sixes, was the decisive knock of the match. He paced the innings brilliantly, anchoring a 113-run partnership with Clark, who contributed a well-compiled 55 off 62 balls. Despite a late stutter when Clark fell in the 41st over, Sharp’s fearless hitting ensured Australia got home with four balls to spare, finishing at 265/6.
Bowling Woes for South Africa
South Africa’s bowlers struggled to contain Australia in the latter half of the innings, especially as Sharp accelerated. While Russel Krug picked up three wickets (3/65), his and his South African bowling partner’s economy rates proved costly. Wiaan Smit (2/26) was the pick of the bowlers, keeping things tight, but he lacked support from the rest of the attack. South Africa also needs to improve their extras as they conceded 17 wides, following their 18 wides in the first match against the West Indies. Considering how close both matches were, this could have made a significant difference in both results.
With Australia’s victory, they continued their unbeaten run in the tournament, while South Africa now face a crucial must-win situation in their next fixture to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Looking Ahead
South Africa will take positives from Jiwa’s form at the top and Solomons’ ability to anchor the innings. However, they need to tighten their bowling and fielding efforts if they are to bounce back in their next match.
With two losses from two matches, their campaign now hinges on how they respond to this setback. Can they regroup and keep their hopes alive? South African fans will be hoping for a resurgent performance in the next fixture. South Africa takes on Wales today in a must win match for the Protea Veterans.
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