South Africa ‘A’ wins series against West Indies ‘A’

Rivaldo Moonsamy and captain Marques Ackerman both struck half-centuries as South Africa ‘A’ completed a series-winning six-wicket victory over West Indies ‘A’ in the third and final 50-over match at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Saint Lucia.

Moonsamy was just six runs short of his century, while Ackerman made 71. South Africa easily got past the home side’s total of 253 in 47.3 overs, finishing on 258 for four in 34.5 overs. The result carried the visitors to a 2-0 win in the three-match series.

West Indies A’ won the toss and elected to bat first. Opener Kadeem Alleyne was the first wicket to fall before fast bowler Okuhle Cele dismissed captain Alick Athanaze and Kevlon Anderson to see them slip to 16 for 3 in the sixth over.

Shaqkere Parris came to the crease, first adding 78 runs with Jyd Goolle, who made 30. He then shared a 101-run partnership with Javelle Glenn, who scored 52 off 49 balls with four boundaries and three sixes.

West Indies were at 195 for four in the 38th over, but after Glenn’s dismissal, they lost three wickets for 21 runs, including Parris.

Pacer Ruan de Swardt dismissed Parris, who was close to his century for 96, after facing 111 balls and smacking 10 fours and 2 sixes.

Khary Pierre added an unbeaten knock of 25 off 25 balls, but the home side could only muster 16 runs from the last five overs.

Cele finished with 3-29, while de Swardt with 2-35 and Tshepo Moreki with 2-41 provided good support.

In reply, Moonsamy added 31 runs for the first wicket with Jordan Hermann to give South Africa a good start. After pacer Ojay Shields dismissed Hermann for 10, Moonsamy and Ackerman completed a 140-run partnership for the second wicket in South Africa’s favor.

Finally, West Indies’ pacer Johann Layne had Ackerman dismissed to leave the score 171 for 2 in the 23rd over.

Left-arm spinner Pierre then trapped Sinethemba Qeshile for 16, and Shields had Moonsamy dismissed for 94 off 91 balls, including 15 fours and one six in his innings.

Jason Smith’s unbeaten 35 and de Swardt, who made 13 not out, shared an unbroken 50-run partnership to guide their team across the finish line.

Shields was West Indies’ best bowler with 2-44.