Four wickets, two to fast bowler Daren Powell with the third new ball, left South Africa on 521 for eight, replying to the West Indies' first innings total of 296, when stumps were drawn.

For most of the day, South Africa's batsmen plundered the West Indies' bowling, but the home team stuck to their guns, and it all began to unravel for the visitors in the evening period when four wickets fell for 61 runs.

After South Africa resumed from their tea position of 417 for four, West Indies started to work their way back into the match when left-hander Ashwell Prince was caught at slip for 23 off one of Chris Gayle's off-spin darts.

A further period of resistance from the unflappable Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher saw South Africa get to within sight of the 500-run mark, but an inspired bowling change from Shivnarine Chander-paul brought the breakthrough.

Kallis, on the backfoot, looking to drive an awkwardly bouncing delivery from Wavell Hinds was caught at slip for 78. He batted for close to four hours and struck four fours from 154 balls.

Four overs later, West Indies claimed their third new ball and Powell did the trick. He bowled Mark Boucher for 28, when the batsman dragged a short-of-a-length delivery into his stumps, and had Monde Zondeki caught at mid-off for two.

Although South Africa had things literally their way, the West Indies

battled gamely. They bowled tirelessly, fielded brilliantly most of the time, and kept up a good work rate that would have pleased their demanding coach Bennett King.

The first signs of their turnaround came quite fortuitously just prior to lunch, when Boeta Dippenaar was run out for 71, failing

to beat substitute fielder Dwayne Smith's direct hit at the bowler's end from short fine leg.

Dippenaar hit half-dozen fours and one six from 158 balls in close to 3-1/4 hours and added 143 for the second wicket with Abraham de Villiers.

Dippenaar and de Villiers, who took 40 minutes and 22 balls to get off the mark, were unflappable and batted all but the last three minutes of the morning period, but it took a bit of misfortune for Dwayne Bravo to bring Smith onto the field, and for the West Indies to get the wicket they so badly desired.

Bravo left the field with a gash over his left eye, when he attempted a diving stop at cover and the ball bounced awkwardly. He returned after South Africa had taken lunch at 335 for two.

In the afternoon, the West Indies continued to bowl with discipline and field like their lives depended upon it.

They got themselves back into the match with the wickets of de Villiers and Herschelle Gibbs just before the break.

De Villiers was caught behind off Reon King for 178, when he under-edged a cut low to wicketkeeper Courtney Browne.

The South African opening batsman hit 15 fours and one six from 352 balls in almost 9-1/4 hours of batting.