Vasbert Drakes BENONI, South Africa, CMC:
VASBERT DRAKES struck two critical blows to trigger an irreversible collapse and then returned to take the final wicket as the West Indies completed their first ever victory in a first-class match in South Africa.
They held off the challenge of Easterns to win by a 33-run margin an hour into the last session of the four-day match yesterday.
A small gathering of spectators at Willowmoore Park were preparing to celebrate a famous win for the home team, who were well poised at 196 for four in mid-afternoon chasing a challenging target of 285.
But Drakes, who was used sparingly in this fixture with the final Test against South Africa beginning on Friday at nearby Centurion, removed top-scorers Andre Seymore and Geoffrey Toyana in successive overs.
DOUBLE-STRIKE
It was a double-strike from which the hosts never recovered, losing their last six wickets for 55 runs to be dismissed for 251 despite another battling knock of 34 by first innings hero Albie Morkel, who was last out.
Having gone through the entire calamitous 1998/99 tour and five matches so far on the current campaign without savouring the sweet taste of victory in the traditional version of the game, the Caribbean side almost squandered the opportunity when wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh started celebrating too early and dropped a straightforward catch offered by last man Jacob Malao off Corey Collymore.
The score was 236 for nine then, and there was a growing sense of panic in the West Indian camp, especially when Morkel smashed Drakes over long-on for six to take his team past the 250-run mark.
