EASTERNS lost their commanding grasp on the first day of the four-day SuperSport Series match against Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth on Thursday. They ended the day on 268 for eight.
The visitors were well poised at 169 for two when Deon Jordaan was caught by Meyrick Pringle off the bowling of Shafiek Abrahams for 57.
Jordaan had been the perfect foil for the impressive Phil Simmons who was busy compiling a magnificent knock of 122.
The West Indian flayed the EP bowling to all parts of the ground in his innings that included 15 fours and 3 sixes and came off just 191 balls.
He fell to the paceman Mornantau Hayward who has showed the type of form that earned him a place on the tour to England in 1998 with South Africa.
Hayward removed the opening pair of Philip Hearle and Shakeel Ahmed in the morning session before getting the valuable wicket of Simmons in the afternoon.