Cele leads strong opening-day performance in St Lucia

An excellent five-wicket haul by Okuhle Cele lead a strong opening day performance by South Africa A (SA ‘A’) helping them take control over West Indies A in the first four-day match at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia on Sunday.

The Hollywoodbets Dolphins seamer claimed five for 43 as the tourists capitalised on winning the toss and bowling first by dismissing the hosts for 240.

Lesego Senokwane (28*) and Jordan Hermann (31*) then put on 68 in the final hour to help the away side reach the close in a sound position - 172 behind with all 10 wickets in hand.

After winning the one-day series, the South Africans continued to enjoy a productive tour in the first of two four-day games.

Cele lead the way and there was good support from the others too, Tshepo Moreki picking up three for 63.

But the hosts did make a good start thanks to John Campbell (33) and Mikyle Louis (57) with the pair putting on 79 for the opening wicket.

After Jason Smith (1/37) made the initial break brought by getting rid of Campbell, Cele landed the hosts with a triple blow.

He got rid of Kevlon Anderson (3), Kavem Hodge (0) and Louis to leave the score on 100 for four.

Alick Athanaze (5) and Ronaldo Alimohamed (8) followed shortly after to leave the home side in deeper trouble on 119 for six.

Captain Tevin Imlach (61) and Khary Pierre (44) rebuilt well with a 77-run seventh-wicket partnership that took the total to 196 for six.

But the SA bowlers hit back well from there to bowl out the home team in 63.4 overs.

Senokwane and Hermann then negotiated the last 15 overs of the day to keep their side in a strong position at stumps.