CAPE TOWN, Jan 4: South Africa’s pace bowlers had West Indies struggling at 96-4 at stumps on Friday, just 18 runs ahead in its second innings on day three of the second Test.

South Africa were earlier dismissed for 321 in its first innings in reply to West Indies’ 243 at the Newlands Stadium.

The West Indies batsmen labored to erase the 78-run first innings deficit, with South Africa bowling 24 maidens in 50 overs.

Opening batsman Denesh Ramdin - standing in for Chris Gayle who rested a tender hamstring after a lengthy period in the field - was the top scorer for West Indies with 32.

Ramdin survived a tight opening spell from Andre Nel and Makhaya Ntini, who between them conceded runs in only two of the opening 10 overs.

Nel eventually trapped Marlon Samuels leg before wicket for 18 late in the afternoon session.

Jacques Kallis was the first to strike, with Ramdin caught behind by Mark Boucher, and Runako Morton also edged a catch to Boucher for 1 in the next over by Dale Steyn.

Ntini dismissed Darren Ganga with an inside edge, bowling him for a painstaking 22.

In South Africa’s innings, Ashwell Prince was run out for 98. He was unbeaten on 90 at lunch, but lost his wicket attempting a second run that always looked unlikely after a throw from Jerome Taylor at third man.

“I thought I hit it squarer,” Prince said, “and I turned for the second without really checking.”

Prince, who put on 129 for the sixth wicket with Boucher (59), faced 225 balls in over five hours.

The West Indian bowling attack was hurt by the absence of Fidel Edwards, who injured his hamstring in his opening spell on the second day and will not play any further part in the match.

That meant Daren Powell bowled unchanged in the first session of the third day. He picked up the wickets of Paul Harris for 4 and Nel for 5 off catches by Morton and Ramdin.

Bravo’s figures of 4-82 were the best for his team, while Taylor had 2-51.

West Indies lead the three-match series 1-0.

Scoreboard

West Indies 1st Innings 243

SOUTH AFRICA 1st Innings (overnight 218-5)

G.C. Smith c Ramdin b Taylor 28

N. McKenzie c Gayle b Taylor 23

H.M. Amla lbw b Bravo 32

J.H. Kallis c Ramdin b Bravo 36

A.D. Prince run out (Taylor) 98

A. de Villiers c Ramdin b Bravo 2

M.V. Boucher b Bravo 59

P.J. Harris c Morton b Powell 4

A. Nel c Ramdin b Powell 5

D. Steyn c Morton b Lewis 19

M. Ntini not out 3

EXTRAS: (B-4, LB-5, W-3) 12

TOTAL: (all out) 321

FALL OF WKTS: 1-46, 2-61, 3-120, 4-123, 5-131, 6-260, 7-265, 8-284, 9-301.

BOWLING: Powell 35-4-123-2 (W2), Edwards 4.5-1-12-0, Samuels 8.1-3-18-0, Taylor 21-6-51-2, Bravo 37-9-82-4, Lewis 12.2-3-26-1.

WEST INDIES 2nd Innings:

D. Ganga b Ntini 22

D. Ramdin c Boucher b Kallis 32

R.M. Morton c Boucher b Steyn 1

M. Samuels lbw b Nel 18

S. Chanderpaul not out 8

C.H. Gayle not out 1

EXTRAS: (LB-14) 14

TOTAL: (for 4 wkts) 96

FALL OF WKTS: 1-59, 2-60, 3-81, 4-93.

BOWLING: Nel 15-9-14-1, Ntini 14-8-25-1, Steyn 9-3-22-1, Kallis 11-4-19-1, Harris 1-0-2-0.

UMPIRES: S Taufel (Aus), R Tiffin (Zim).

THIRD UMPIRE: M Erasmus (RSA).

Match referee: R Mahanama (SRI)

—AP