WEST Indian quickie Kenny Benjamin vindicated the Gauteng selectors decision to include him in the starting line-up, after only arriving in the country on Tuesday, by ripping into the heart of the Easterns innings on the second day of their SuperSport Series match at the Wanderers on Friday.
The lanky Antiguan brought back memories of a charged-up Sylvester Clarke as he breathed fire into the Gauteng attack taking five for 22 as Easterns were bowled out for 150 in their innings — 161 runs behind.
Gauteng surprisingly did not enforce the follow on and finished on one without loss at stumps.
Easterns capitulated under the seam attack of Benjamin aided by spin twins Clive Eksteen and Derek Crookes.
The Easterns innings, for what it was worth, was held together by a fine fighting effort from their captain Deon Jordaan who scored nearly half his team’s score with an unbeaten 73.
The Gauteng rot started as early as the first over when Andrew Hall was clean bowled by Marius Mostert on 24. The second over was just as bad for the hosts and they lost Eksteen for 11.
Benjamin and Walter Masemula soon followed and it looked like the day would belong to Easterns.