EAST LONDON, South Africa (CMC):
THE WEST Indies failed to ease worries that they will be less than competitive in their three-Test series with South Africa when they endured a batting meltdown against the hosts' A team yesterday at Buffalo Park.
The West Indies were dismissed for 193 in their first innings in the hour following tea, before South Africa A recovered from an early setback to reach 78 for one when stumps were drawn on the opening day of the four-day tour match.
Runako Morton hit the top score of 54 but the West Indies needed scores of 40 each from Darren Sammy and Rawl Lewis in an eighth-wicket stand of 57 to help them reach a respectable total.
The West Indies were undermined by national discard Monde Zondeki. The right-arm fast bowler snared five wickets for 39 runs from 16 overs and had the support of Charl Langeveldt and Vernon Philander, who claimed two wickets apiece.
No breakthrough
After the new-ball pair of Fidel Edwards and Pedro Collins failed to make the breakthrough, Sammy removed Alviro Petersen for eight before Morne van Wyk and South Africa A captain Neil McKenzie added 63 - unbroken - for the third wicket.
After choosing to bat, the West Indies suffered an early impediment when Devon Smith was caught behind for 10 off Zondeki as his wretched form continued and, just when things appeared to be getting on track, Daren Ganga was dismissed for the same score to leave the visitors 48 for two.
The West Indies went to lunch on 81 for two but the fall of four wickets in the space of 23 balls left the West Indies wobbling in the first hour after the interval.
Marlon Samuels was adjudged lbw for 14 off Zondeki, who also removed Shivnarine Chanderpaul for a second-ball duck and stand-in West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo for four before Langeveldt scalped Morton.
When Philander bowled Denesh Ramdin for 10, West Indies were 112 for seven and in danger of falling for modest total but Sammy and Lewis came to their rescue.
The match is West IndiesŐ only workout before the three-Test series against South Africa which begins on Boxing Day at Sahara Oval in Port Elizabeth.
