Rising

South Africa put themselves in a strong position to level the Test series with West Indies after they dominated day three of the second Test in Cape Town.

A wicket apiece for Jacques Kallis, Andre Nel, Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini in the final session limited the the Windies' second innings to 96 for four at stumps - a lead of just 18 runs.

Ashwell Prince had earlier handed his side a valuable 78-run lead with a stoical knock of 98 as the Proteas were bowled out for 321 in their first innings.

The hosts had resumed on 218 for five, but it was Chris Gayle's side who enjoyed the early fortune as Mark Boucher, Paul Harris and Nel gave away their wickets in the morning session.

Boucher reached 59 from 136 balls - his half-century came off 129 balls - before he dragged an attempted pull off Dwayne Bravo onto his stumps.

Daren Powell then claimed the wicket of Harris who edged the ball to Runako Morton at second slip after he misjudged a drive through the on side.

Nel was the next to go after he made a conservative five before edging Powell to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, but Prince kept his focus to reach lunch with an unbeaten 88 to help his side to 287 for eight.

After the interval Prince, who faced 225 balls, fell just two runs short of his century when he was run out after neat work in the field from Jerome Taylor and Ramdin.

Steyn ensured the tail wagged with a quickfire 19 before spinner Rawl Lewis ended the innings with his only wicket in the match to leave Ntini unbeaten on three.

All-rounder Bravo was the pick of the tourists' bowling attack and finished with four for 82 off 37 overs.

West Indies openers Daren Ganga and Ramdin survived a tricky 17-over period before tea to get their second innings off to a solid start but South Africa seized control of the match in the final session.

Ramdin (32), promoted to open the batting with Ganga while Gayle rested a hamstring injury, was the first wicket to fall after tea when he got a thin edge on a virtually unplayable delivery from Kallis and Boucher took the catch.

Steyn then struck an over later to remove new batsman Morton with a fine delivery outside off which the right-hander nicked to Boucher.

Ganga was the next wicket to fall in the 40th over after he made a patient 22.

Ntini angled a full delivery at Ganga and the ball took a thick inside edge off his weak forward defence which went through the gate before it cannoned into the stumps.

Seven overs later Nel had Marlon Samuels lbw for 18 after poor footwork saw the Jamaican trapped in front as he attempted to flick the ball of his legs.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul played a typically watchful unbeaten eight as he and fellow left-hander Gayle (one not out) saw the tourists to the close without further loss.

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