The West Indies cricket side finally recorded a first-class win on their South African tour after Easterns squandered a prime position at Willowmore Park in Benoni on Monday.
Having beaten only the motley gathering that represents the Nicky Oppenheimer XI before this fixture, the Windies beat Easterns by 33 runs on the final day of their four-match encounter. Having not won a top-flight game in 1998/99, the win represented their maiden first-class win on South African soil.
For much of Monday’s play, though, it looked likely that Easterns would be victorious. In pursuit of a modest 285 for victory, Easterns moved swiftly to 196 for four before imploding, finally stuttering to 251 all out.
With Daryll Cullinan out cheaply early in the day’s play, the role of anchor fell to Andre Seymore.
The opener shouldered the burden manfully and had made 79 before he was trapped in front by Vasbert Drakes.
His dismissal signalled the slide from which the homeside failed to recover.
Geoff Toyana, however, continued to take the fight to the visitors. Batting at number six, the left-handed Toyana hit a six and six fours in making a spirited 43 from 56 balls.
When Drakes accounted for him, though, the homeside retreated into its shell, blocking out four consecutive overs before the tea break.
Such a timid approach proved equally unsuccessful as the hosts lost Gareth Flusk shortly after the break.
Debutant Morne Morkel, who made an unbeaten 44 in the first innings, was then run out, rather unluckily, for three.
Batting with his elder brother, Albie, Morne Morkel was left stranded at the non-striker’s end when Chris Gayle managed to get a hand on a powerfully hit straight drive.
With just Jacob Malao left, the elder Morkel mixed aggression and defence to inch the score closer to the target.
The first-innings centurion smashed Drakes over wide long on to bring up the 250 before holing out for 34. — Sapa