It was the 23rd Test century of Lara's career

West Indies captain Brian Lara scored a superb century and broke a world record as his side avoided the follow-on against South Africa.

Lara smashed an unbeaten 178 from 239 balls as the tourists ended the third day 198 runs adrift of South Africa in Johannesburg on 363-6.

And he scored a Test record 28 runs off one over - spinner Robin Peterson's - with a sequence of 4-6-6-4-4-4.

It was also Lara's first Test ton against South Africa.

And the Trinidadian made the hosts pay after being dropped by Shaun Pollock in a regulation slip-catch on 15.

The tourists had started the day in painstaking fashion, scoring just 51 runs in the first session and losing Ramnaresh Sarwan for 21.

I had no intention of going for it Brian Lara Windies quotes

Daren Ganga laboured to his fifth Test fifty and was out not long after lunch for 60.

Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul added 125 for the fourth wicket before Chanderpaul was bowled by Ntini for 34.

Ridley Jacobs made four and Vasbert Drakes weighed in with 21 and at the end of the day's play Mervyn Dillon was six not out.

Makhaya Ntini was the pick of the South Africa bowlers, taking 3-72.

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Daren Ganga, Ridley Jacobs, Vasbert Drakes, Mervyn Dillon, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards.