Fast bowler Zondeki rocks West Indians

Fast bowler Monde Zondeki took five wickets as the touring West Indians made a stuttering start on the first day of a four-day match against South Africa A at Buffalo Park.

The tourists were bowled out for 193 after winning the toss and batting in their only first-class fixture before a three-Test series which starts in Port Elizabeth next Wednesday. South Africa A were 78 for one at the close.

Runako Morton top-scored for the West Indians with 54. His team slumped to 112 for seven before lower order batsmen Darren Sammy and Rawl Lewis enabled them to make a partial recovery. Both scored 40.

Zondeki, 25, played the most recent of his five Test matches three seasons ago but has been the outstanding bowler in South African domestic first-class cricket this season with 44 wickets in seven matches. His return of five for 39 was his fifth five-wicket haul of the season.

Troubled by injuries and inconsistent form, Zondeki re-modelled his action during the winter, passing up a chance to tour Australia with the South African Emerging Players team in order to get better alignment in his delivery.

He had been landing on the outside of his right foot and was putting stress on his back with a twisting action.

Zondeki struck in the fifth over when he had Devon Smith caught behind. In his second spell he claimed three top-order batsmen in the space of nine deliveries, including the key wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was caught at third slip without scoring off the second ball he faced.

Morton followed in the next over when he drove Charl Langeveldt to mid-off after an 88-ball innings during which he hit ten fours. At that stage the tourists were 95 for six.

South Africa A lost an early wicket when Alviro Petersen was bowled by Darren Sammy for eight but Morne van Wyk and captain Neil McKenzie put on an unbeaten 63 for the second wicket.