PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — Fast bowler Dale Steyn claimed 3-65 as South Africa sealed a convincing 163-run victory over the West Indies on day four of the first Test at Queen’s Park Oval yesterday.

The home team, set an improbable 457 from their second innings to win, was bowled out for 293.

Captain Chris Gayle top-scored with 73 and there was a late flourish from the tail-enders but the visiting side completed an easy win with a day to spare, just 10 minutes before yesterday’s scheduled finish.

Steyn, who took 5-29 in the first innings, claimed the Man of the Match award.

Fellow pace bowler Morne Morkel removed both West Indies openers to finish with 2-49, while left-arm spinner Paul Harris grabbed 2-91.

Earlier in the day, South Africa skipper Graeme Smith fell 10 runs short of a century as the tourists stretched their overnight 155-2 to 206-4 before declaring midway through the morning session. Smith struck seven fours off 173 balls in 215 minutes.

The West Indies second innings was quickly undermined by Steyn and Morkel.

Morkel trapped Travis Dowlin leg before for one, while Brendan Nash scored 13 before he drove at Steyn and feathered an edge to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher at 39-2.

The West Indies’ most experienced duo, Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, shared a restorative stand of 55 either side of lunch before Jacques Kallis made a decisive breakthrough.

Left-hander Chanderpaul, who compiled 15 off 48 balls, sparred outside the off stump and edged to second slip.

Gayle followed at 114-4 as he played across at Morkel and was palpably leg before. The 29-year-old struck nine fours and a six off 106 balls.

Dwayne Bravo hit an enterprising 49 off 74 balls, spiced with four fours and two sixes and shared resilient stands with Narsingh Deonarine (23) and Denesh Ramdin (9).

The next contest in the three-Test series is scheduled for June 18-22 at Basseterre.

Scoreboard

South Africa 1st Innings 352 (M Boucher 69; S Benn 5-120)

West Indies 1st Innings 102 (D. Steyn 5-29)

South Africa 2nd Innings (overnight 155 for two)

G Smith b Benn 90

A Petersen lbw b Benn 22

H Amla c Deonarine b Shillingford 5

J Kallis lbw b Benn 40

AB. deVilliers not out 20

A Prince not out 16

Extras (b6, lb2, nb5) 13

Total (4 wkts decl’d, 62 overs) 206

Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Petersen), 2-79 (Amla), 3-157 (Kallis), 4-178 (Smith)

Bowling: Rampaul 6-2-21-0 (nb1); Pascal 6-1-27-0 (nb4); Benn 25-3-74-3; Shillingford 21-1-67-1; D.J. Bravo 4-1-9-0

West Indies 2nd Innings (target: 457 runs)

C Gayle lbw b Morkel 73

T Dowlin lbw b Morkel 1

B Nash c Boucher b Steyn 13

S Chanderpaul c de Villiers b Kallis 15

N Deonarine lbw b Steyn 23

DJ Bravo c Prince b Harris 49

D Ramdin c de Villiers b Tsotsobe 9

S Shillingford c Petersen b Harris 27

S Benn lbw b Petersen 42

R Rampaul not out 18

N Pascal b Steyn 10

Extras (b11, lb2) 13

Total (all out, 80.3 overs) 293

Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Dowlin), 2-39 (Nash), 3-94 (Chanderpaul), 4-114 (Gayle), 5-152 (Deonarine), 6-192 (Bravo), 7-194 (Ramdin), 8-260 (Benn), 9-264 (Shillingford)

Bowling: Steyn 15.3-1-65-3; Morkel 12-3-49-2; Tsotsobe 13-5-20-1; Harris 25.3-3-91-2; Kallis 11-3-49-1; Smith 0.3-0-4-0; Petersen 2-1-2-1

Result: South Africa won by 163 runs

Series: South Africa lead three-match series 1-0

Man-of-the-Match: D Steyn (RSA)

Umpires: Asad Rauf (PAK), S Davis (AUS)

TV Umpire: S Taufel (AUS)

Match Referee: R Mahanama (SRI)