West Indies beat South Africa by 52 runs

by A.C. de Silva

Things brightened-up for the game of cricket and the first Post apartheid Test between West Indies and South Africa was played at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados started on Easter Saturday 18th April 1992.

West Indies made 262 and 283 and South Africa scored 148 and 345. Thereby West Indies beat South Africa by 52 runs.

The arrival of South Africa to the Test scene in a one-off match against West Indies at Barbados was a much looked forward to event by the cricket fans. Ten of the Springkoks made their Test debuts - only captain Kepler Wessels had played before, albeit in Australian colours.

South Africa did well to bowl out the West Indies for 262 runs in the first innings and South Africa's Prince Charles lookalike Andrew Hudson became the first South African to make a century on his first international appearance, a beat that was not repeated until Jacques Rudolph secured an undefeated 222 against Bangladesh on April 2003.

Wessels made 59 while Jimmy Adams was the most successful West Indian bowler with 4 for 43.

After having made 262 in their first innings, the West Indies hit up 283 in their second turn with Adams 79, Brian Lara 64. Of the South African bowlers, Allan Donald took 4 for 77 and Richard Snell 4 for 74.

Came the South Africans time to bat and captain Wessels made 74 and Peter Kirsten's 52, the Windies bowlers Custley Ambrose (6 for 34) and Curtley Walsh (4 for 31) saw off the South African side and they were out for 148.

Then South Africa in their second turn were all out for 345 and so the West Indies went on to beat South Africa by an astonishing 52 runs even though South Africa made 345 in their second innings.

West Indies: 262 and 283

South Africa: 148 and 345