FASTEST TEST 100s 56 balls V Richards (WI) 67 balls J Gregory (Aus) 69 balls S Chanderpaul (WI) 71 balls R Fredericks (WI) 74 balls M Azharuddin (Ind) 74 balls Majid Khan (Pak) 74 balls Kapil Dev (Ind) 76 balls G Jessop (Eng) 79 balls C Gayle (WI) 84 balls M Hayden (Aus)

Chris Gayle lifted West Indies spirits with a 79-ball hundred in the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

The Jamaican left-hander cracked a six and 19 fours despite being hampered by a hamstring injury.

West Indies were 178-1 at the close, with Gayle 112 not out and Ramnaresh Sarwan on 39.

South Africa were dismissed for 532 earlier in the day with Mark Boucher hitting an unbeaten 122, his first Test century since December 1999.

It was Boucher's fourth Test century in all and he dominated the first two sessions of play before running out of partners.

He put on 146 with Jacques Kallis, who resumed his innings when Shaun Pollock was out for nine in the second over, having retired hurt during the second day's play.

Kallis showed no sign of discomfort from his bruised arm, although it was strapped for extra protection, as he and Boucher went for their shots.

Boucher was bowled by a no-ball yorker from Edwards when he was on 15 but was in no trouble thereafter as he progressed to his hundred off 151 balls.

Kallis was finally bowled for 76 by debutant spinner Dave Mohammed, who picked up his third wicket in the innings when Makhaya Ntini was given out for 18.

Ntini was less than thrilled with umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan's decision and TV replays suggested the ball had clearly missed the edge on its way through to Jacobs.

Adam Sanford polished off last man Andre Nel for four to return figures of 4-132, leaving the way clear for Gayle's magnificent counter-attack.

Boucher hit 21 boundaries during his innings

The South African seamers erred in bowling too short on a flat wicket as he pulled and cut with tremendous power to reach fifty off 37 balls.

"Sometimes things just flow for you and you have to capitalise on them. I didn't think of the hamstring and I just tried to keep my composure," said Gayle.

Daren Ganga could only watch and admire at the other end, as he contributed only 17 to an opening stand of 126 before being bowled by Nel.

Gayle had already reached his century by then and new partner Sarwan looked equally fluent, although he was dropped at slip on 27 by Pollock off Paul Adams as they posted a 50 partnership in 40 minutes.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Mark Boucher (wkt), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Neil McKenzie, Martin van Jaarsveld, Shaun Pollock, Paul Adams, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel.

West Indies (from): Brian Lara (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Daren Ganga, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Smith, Ridley Jacobs, Carlton Baugh, Vasbert Drakes, Mervyn Dillon, Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Adam Sanford, Dave Mohammed, Corey Collymore.