RAIN saved Easterns from almost certain defeat in their SuperSport Series match against Border in East London on Sunday. Easterns were dismissed for 238 in the first innings in reply to Border’s 453-8 declared, and were 69-3 in their follow-on innings when play was abandoned 40 minutes after tea. Rain prevented the first ball of the day being bowled before 1pm. The visitors resumed their first innings on 232-9, and Border needed 4,4 overs to wrap up the innings for the addition of six runs. West Indian paceman Vasbert Drakes was the destroyer-in-chief with 4-85, while Tyron Henderson took 3-47. Easterns were asked to follow-on 215 runs in arrears, but any hopes Border had of pushing for victory were dashed when the rain allowed only 49.3 overs to be bowled in Easterns’ second innings. They were reduced to 6-2 after nine overs before Philip Hearle and Deon Jordaan stood firm in a third-wicket partnership of 52 which ended when Hearle was caught be hind by Mark Boucher off Henderson for 26. Jordaan was 31 not out when the match was abandoned, with Drakes having taken 2-14 off 11 overs.