Raipur It was a nostalgic evening as the West Indies Masters defeated South Africa Masters by 29 runs here on Tuesday, securing their spot in the International Masters League (IML) 2025 semifinals thanks to the all-around skill of century Lendl Simmons, Brian Lara, and Ravi Rampaul’s five-wicket burst.

The Caribbean flair was evident at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, where Lendl Simmons (108), captain Brian Lara (29), and later Chadwick Walton (38 not out) helped their team reach 200/5 against a strong South Africa Masters attack led by Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini.

Simmons and Lara grabbed the stage after a difficult start that saw Dwayne Smith (5) and William Perkins (5) leave early off Garnett Kruger. They displayed a masterclass in stroke-making to make a dramatic comeback with a partnership of 125 runs for the third wicket.

While Lara, always the artist, skillfully created his masterpiece, Simmons, always the aggressor, set the tone with his daring striking as he blazed to a 31-ball fifty. Content to play second fiddle early on, the Prince of Trinidad made a bold move by throwing Alviro Petersen for a soaring six and a clean boundary in back-to-back deliveries.

In only 54 balls, Simmons reached his century, sending Thandi Tshabalala to all parts with a six and a four before coolly taking a single to get a well-earned hundred. Simmons kept on shining.

However, Ntini breathed fresh life into the match by dismissing new man Ashley Nurse and Simmons’ 59-ball knock, which was full of 13 fours and five huge sixes, off successive deliveries just as the pair threatened to steal the match from the South Africa Masters.

After the southpaw led the West Indies Masters’ comeback, Ryan McLaren struck with the valuable scalp of Lara for 29 off 34 deliveries. Walton was in his element despite the setbacks, giving the innings the much-needed boost it required with six massive sixes to enable the West Indies Masters reach the 200-run milestone.

The chase in the South Africa Masters got off to a fast start thanks to wicketkeeper Richard Levi’s brisk 44. The Proteas’ early momentum, however, was short-lived as their progress was halted by the loss of three fast wickets, placing them behind. Enter Jacques Rudolph and Jacques Kallis, who restored South Africa’s chances of a successful chase by stabilizing the innings with a vital 78-run partnership.

The West Indies Masters seemed to be losing the game as both hitters were matching each other shot for stroke. However, Lendl Simmons broke the partnership by removing Rudolph for a solid 39 off 34 balls, dotted with four boundaries, just when the Proteas seemed to be in control.

Rampaul returned for a second session after seeing an opening, and the results were nothing short of spectacular. The seasoned seamer tore through the middle order of the South Africa Masters in just five deliveries, taking the valuable wickets of Dane Vilas, Farhaan Behardien, and Kallis (45), in addition to his previous dismissal of Hashim Amla (3). The Proteas ultimately finished at 171/8 as Rampaul returned to finish his last over with five wickets, including the scalp of Ryan McLaren.

The South Africa Masters season ended disappointingly with this defeat.

Short scores:

South Africa Masters 171/8 (Jacques Kallis 45, Richard Levi 44, Jacques Rudolph 39; Ravi Rampaul 5/26) was defeated by 29 runs at West Indies Masters 200/5 (Lendl Simmons 108, Chadwick Walton 38 not out, Brian Lara 29; Garnett Kruger 2/14, Makhaya Ntini 2/34).