EAST LONDON, South Africa (CMC)

Half-centuries from stand-in captain Dwayne Bravo and fellow all-rounder Darren Sammy failed to save West Indies from plunging to a 10-wicket defeat in their four-day tour match against South Africa A yesterday.

Bravo top-scored with 67 and Sammy supported with 57, as West Indies, trailing by 178 on first innings, were dismissed for 214 in their second innings on the third day of the match at Buffalo Park.

West Indies' second batting meltdown of the match meant South Africa A had a modest 36 to chase, and the home team reached their target for the loss of no wickets.

West Indies never recovered after they capsized to 53 for five, despite successive half-century stands involving Bravo, Denesh Ramdin and Sammy.

West Indies 193 (Runako Morton 54, Darren Sammy 40, Rawl Lewis 40; Monde Zondeki 5-39, Vernon Philander 2-40, Charl Langeveldt 2-55) and 214 (Dwayne Bravo 67, Darren Sammy 57, Denesh Ramdin 35, Marlon Samuels 21, Runako Morton 16; Johan Botha 4-20, Monde Zondeki 3-61, Vernon Philander 2-36).

South Africa A 371 (Justin Ontong 114 not out, Morne van Wyk 89, Jean-Paul Duminy 62, Neil McKenzie 54; Dwayne Bravo 6-51, Fidel Edwards 2-39) and 39-0 (Morne van Wyk 23 not out).