The touring team, rallied by an unbeaten 53 from Carl Hooper, were 89 for four at the close on the second day at Newlands after South Africa declared their first innings at 406 for eight.

South Africa, armed with a 3-0 winning lead in the five-test series, had been pegged back after resuming at their overnight 282 for two.

West Indies gained a measure of respite once they broke a third wicket partnership of 235 between Jacques Kallis (110) and Daryll Cullinan, which started a decline in which six wickets went for 88.

Cullinan, who notched a career-best 168 (306b, 425m, 20x4), was the sixth batsman to be dismissed.

SCOREBOARD

South Africa (1stinnings): G Kirsten c Jacobs b Ambrose 0, H Gibbs c Wallace b Dillon 42, J Kallis c Jacobs b Gibson 110, D Cullinan c Jacobs b McLean 168, H Cronje c Jacobs b McLean 0, J Rhodes b Hooper 34, S Pollock c Lara b Dillon 9, M Boucher not out 15, A Donald c Wallace b Dillon 0, D Terbrugge not out 4. Extras (lb3, w1, nb20): 24. Total (for eight wkts declared in 146.5 overs): 406

Fall Of Wickets: 1-0, 2-74, 3-309, 4-312, 5-376, 6-380, 7-397, 8-397.

Bowling: Ambrose 24.1-7-49-1, McLean 25.5-7-76-2, Gibson 30-4-92-1, Dillon 33.5-6-99-3, Hooper 27-6-60-1, Chanderpaul 6-0-27-0.

West Indies (1st innings): P Wallace c Cullinan b Donald 8, J Murray c Boucher b Donald 0, S Chanderpaul c Rhodes b Terbrugge 6, B Lara hit wkt b Donald 4, C Hooper batting 53, D Ganga batting 16; Extras (lb2) 2. Total: (for 4 wkts in 33 overs) 89

Fall Of Wickets: 1-1, 2-10, 3-14, 4-34.

Bowling: Donald 5-0-13-3, Pollock 10-6-16-0, Terbrugge 7-3-13-1, Kallis 6-2-21-0, Adams 5-0-24-0