Twenty four year old West Indies A all-rounder, Kevin Sinclair played an innings of maturity on the final day of the opening Unofficial Test to steer his side to a close one-wicket victory over South Africa A in Benoni on Friday.
The visitors lost four wickets quickly to move from 75 for 1 to 104 for 5 when Sinclair walked to the crease with the target of 224 seemingly miles away. However, the right handed batter showed composure and took the responsibility of getting the remaining runs with the lower order. He faced 150 deliveries scoring 80 of the 120 runs that were required to give West Indies A victory with two ‘Test’ matches still to play.
At the other end, Sinclair saw the demise of captain Joshua DaSilva (5), Akeem Jordan (5), Jayden Seales (12) and Shermon Lewis (2) then got the life line from last man Jair McAllister. The rookie Barbadian pacer gave gutsy support to Sinclair to move the score from 171 for 9 to 224 bringing up victory with an unbroken stand of 53.
McAllister eventually hit the winning run in the first over with the second new ball of the innings which was also the second over in the final hour of the match.
The second ‘Test’ begins on Tuesday November 28 in East London.
Scores:
South Africa 287/9d & 250
West Indies A 314/9d & 224/9
WI-A won by 1 wicket