Nel shows his delight after having Lara caught at cover

Makhaya Ntini took all three wickets to leave the tourists on 31-3 as their attempt to hit 378 to win began in desperate fashion.

The Border fast bowler had finished with 5-94 in West Indies' first innings which was wrapped up for 410.

That score included a fine effort of 202 from captain Brian Lara.

South Africa then declared on 226-6 after hitting quick runs either side of tea to leave the Windies to face 10 awkward overs before stumps.

It proved to be a difficult assignment indeed.

Ntini, bowling fast and straight, crashed a delivery past Wavell Hinds' forward prod and into his off stump.

Nightwatchman Vasbert Drakes was bowled through the gate and Daren Ganga was ajudged lbw to an off-cutter.

Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan will resume with a huge task on their hands on Tuesday morning.

Ntini was too hot for Dillon

South Africa had a less troubled time in their second innings, although Herschelle Gibbs was hit in the face by a Drakes bouncer when he missed with an attempted pull.

The ball squeeed between the helmet peak and the visor and blood poured from his nose as he was led from the field.

Gibbs had scored six runs in more than an hour at the crease and was replaced by Jacques Rudolph.

Smith, playing an expansive game, drove Drakes to backward point where substitute Dwayne Smith dived to his right to hold a neat catch.

Rudolph and Jacques Kallis then ground out 16 runs in 10.5 overs before tea was taken.

Kallis played some big pulls and drives early in the final session as the run rate got a much-needed boost before playing across Wavell Hinds to fall lbw for 44.

And the final man to fall for that score was Rudolph, driving Hinds to point.

Some late hitting from the tail took South Africa to an impregable position, forcing West Indies to play a rearguard innings on the final day

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.