MIHLALI Mpongwana has been one of the up-and-coming all-rounders in domestic cricket for a number of years.
The lanky seam-bowling all-rounder started making waves about two seasons ago when he dominated the One-Day Cup campaign in the blue colours of Western Province cricket.
It is hard to forget the maiden List A century that he scored during the final of the 2023/24 One-Day Cup at Newlands, a knock that saw Western Province win the competition courtesy of Mpongwana and Kyle Verreynne’s centuries.
The 25-year-old Mpongwana has since been in a number of Proteas white -ball squads and has gone on to play a One-Day International at Lahore against New Zealand earlier this year.
Now on tour in the Caribbean, Mpongwana has continued to impress, picking up 3/37 in 10 overs, to help South Africa A seal a 42-run victory over West Indies A at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Saint Lucia on Wednesday.
South Africa ‘A’ opened their tour of the West Indies with a convincing 42-run victory in the first One-Day match of the series. 🏏
Mihlali Mpongwana was the star of the show, with a match-winning spell of 3 for 37 in 10 overs, which earned him the Player of the Match award.… pic.twitter.com/y0Fto7pZfz
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) May 22, 2025
Mpongwana’s returns saw him walk away with the Player of the Match award and most importantly saw the visitors secure a 1-0 lead in the three-match one-day series.
Heading into the second game that is set to be played at the same venue on Saturday, the side will be looking to Mpongwana to continue his heroics.
Moreover, the side has a number of other in-form players, including Jordan Hermann, Sinethemba Qeshile and Jason Smith.
The trio scored half-centuries each in the opening match, with Qeshile and Smith finishing on 55 while Hermann finished on 53 to help the side set a total of 283.
These were impressive batting and bowling performances from the South African fringe players, given that the West Indies A side are made up of internationals, including fast bowler Oshane Thomas and batter Alick Athanaze.
Seam bowlers Tshepo Moreki (2/20), Tristan Luus (1/66) and Okuhle Cele (1/68) showed promising signs alongside spinner Bjorn Fortuin (2/45) as the visitors bowled out the hosts for 241.
The visitors are expected to be boosted by the arrival of youngster Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who will return from the Indian Premier League to join South Africa A for the remainder of the tour.
