You are in > manchester.com  > News > Rare win for Windies

Cricket

Rare win for Windies

29/12/2007

West Indies completed a major Test victory as they beat South Africa by 128 runs in Port Elizabeth.

The Proteas are now the second-best Test side in the world after England slipped to fifth, but could not avoid a fourth-day defeat to Chris Gayle's side in the first of the current three-Test series.

The win will be a huge relief for the Windies, who are currently ranked eighth in the world after a prolonged slump in form.

Posting 408 in the first innings was key to their victory, with South Africa collapsing in reply to just 195. Declining to take the follow-on, West Indies could only manage 175 but had set an imposing target for Graeme Smith and co.

Three wickets down before lunch placed the Proteas in a grim situation, but Jacques Kallis (85) and AB de Villers (60) stuck together to put on a 112-run fifth-wicket partnership to provide some resistance.

Both eventually fell and, after faint hopes were raised by Andre Nel and Dale Steyn's 67-run stand, the South African resistance faltered towards the end of play.

Three wickets apiece for Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor topped the Windies bowling effort, while Marlon Samuels won the man-of-the-match award.

The second Test begins in Cape Town on Wednesday.