Ryan Reeves produced a match-winning late assault as South Africa escaped with a one-wicket victory over West Indies Masters in the IMC Over-40s World Cup at Providence yesterday.
Arriving with the defending champions struggling at 160 for seven in pursuit of 270, Reeves smashed an unbeaten 64 from just 29 deliveries to complete a remarkable recovery.
His eight fours and three sixes helped South Africa reach 272 for nine in 44 overs, handing West Indies their second defeat in as many matches.
The finish remained uncertain until the final partnership. Devendra Bishoo removed Brendon Reddy for 52 and Robert Mutch for eight, leaving South Africa nine wickets down for 242 and needing another 28.
Reeves then combined with Christoff Visser in an unbeaten 30-run stand to settle the contest with six balls remaining. Visser contributed two as Reeves carried the chase home.
Reddy had played a major role in the turnaround, hitting four sixes and two fours during his 35-ball innings. His 68-run partnership with Reeves for the eighth wicket revived a chase that had been repeatedly checked by the West Indies bowlers.
Trevor Benn had struck twice from successive deliveries early in the innings, bowling captain William Hantam-C for one and trapping Brandon Buckley lbw without scoring to leave South Africa three for two.
Alwyn Vorster and Christiaan Ritter responded with a 60-run stand before Imran Khan dismissed Ritter for 32. Khan later removed Vorster for 36, while Reinhardt Strydom’s 43 ended when he was stumped off Jason Mohammed.
Nathan Jones was run out for 10, and Khan’s dismissal of Chris Thompson for 11 left South Africa with only three wickets remaining and 110 runs still required.
Khan finished with three for 52, Benn took two for 63 and Bishoo two for 70. Rakesh Maharaj delivered nine controlled overs for just 22 runs, but West Indies could not prevent the late recovery.
Earlier, Randy Thomas had provided the foundation for West Indies’ 269 for nine, scoring 78 from 74 balls with 12 boundaries.
Thomas featured in an opening partnership of 40 with Sewnarine Chattergoon, who made 12, and added 56 for the third wicket with Antonnel Atwell. Atwell struck five fours in his 34 from 25 deliveries, while Mohammed contributed 10.
Narsingh Deonarine remained unbeaten on 47 as wickets fell around him following Thomas’ run-out at 170. Larry Farnum added 16, Bishoo made 12 and Maharaj finished on 17 not out, helping West Indies push towards 270.
Reeves also contributed with the ball, taking two for 47. Piet Botha returned identical figures, while Mutch claimed two for 64.
Having also lost their opening match against Australia, West Indies will seek their first win when they face Namibia today at the Police Sports Club Ground, Georgetown.
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