South Africa claimed West Indies star Brian Lara among three quick wickets before tea to take command on the fourth day of the second Test at Queen’s Park Oval on Monday.
The West Indies, who trailed by 51 runs on the first innings, went to the break tottering on 86 for four, a lead of just 35.
Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje took two for 11, including the crucial dismissal of Lara. Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini followed his six-wicket haul in the first innings with 2-22.
Ramnaresh Sarwan led the home team’s resistance with a fluent, unbeaten 47.
Sarwan and Wavell Hinds steered the West Indies into a satisfying position at 79-1 before three wickets fell for seven runs in 18 deliveries.
Hinds (22) was leg before to Boje as he came too far across his stumps. Hinds hit just one four off 126 balls in 166 minutes.
One over later, the South Africans were whooping in delight as Lara fell for 4. The master left-hander, who hit 196 in the first innings, was bowled by a ball that turned appreciably and kept a low as he tried to force it through the off side.
Then, in the last over before tea, captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul was trapped leg before by Ntini for one to further boost the tourists.
Earlier, offspinner Chris Gayle starred as South Africa lost its last four wickets for 28 runs in the first hour.
Gayle finished with 4-50 off 37,5 overs as the tourists, resuming on 370-6, were bowled out for 398.
Gayle then lost his own wicket cheaply — the opener had only one when he sliced a forced backfoot stroke off Ntini to gully, where AB de Villiers held a sharp catch. – Sapa-AP