South Africa A cruised to a 42-run victory over the West Indies A in the opening one-day match in Saint Lucia on Wednesday.

The visitors posted 283 all out after being put in to bat, before restricting the hosts to 241 in reply.

Jordan Hermann (53 off 47 balls; eight fours, one six), Sinethemba Qeshile (55 off 55 balls; five fours, one six) and Jason Smith (55 off 44 balls; three fours, three sixes), together with Rivaldo Moonsamy (49) were central to SA A setting a strong total, with Mihlali Mpongwana (3-37) leading an excellent display in the field.

It gave coach Wandile Gwavu’s side a positive start to the three-match series with game two scheduled for Saturday.

The South Africans did suffer an early blow when Lesego Senokwane (four) fell in the second over to pick-of-the-bowlers Jediah Blades (3-39), but Moonsamy and Hermann added 93 for the second wicket to steady the ship.

Both then fell in quick succession, along with the wicket of captain Marques Ackermann (four), leaving the tourists in a spot of trouble on 125-4.

But Qeshile and Smith then combined for an 85-run fifth-wicket partnership to lift their side once more.

They got to 210-4 at one stage, but things unravelled from the 34th over. Wickets fell regularly and the South Africans were dismissed with 22 balls remaining.

Okuhle Cele (1-68) claimed the early wicket of Kadeem Alleyne for 17, before a strong passage of play for the home side when Kevlon Anderson (45) and captain Alick Athanaze (33) strung together a stand of 61 for the second wicket.

Once Mpongwana made the breakthrough, though, the West Indies lost their momentum.

They then lost wickets regularly as Tshepo Moreki (2-20), Bjorn Fortuin (2-45) and Tristan Luus (1-66) all chipped in to leave the home side all out in 44.1 overs.

Photo: @ProteasMenCSA/X