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A century partnership between Brian Lara and skipper Carl Hooper took West Indies out of immediate danger on the third day of the third Test against South Africa at Kensington Oval.

West Indies were 252 for five at the close in reply to South Africa's first innings total of 454.

Lara (83) and Hooper (74 not out) put on 116 for the fifth wicket after South Africa's back-up fast bowlers, Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini, had plunged the home side into trouble.

Lara again fell short of a Test century against South Africa, a feat which has eluded any West Indian, after getting the benefit of the doubt from the video umpire when he edged Shaun Pollock to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher when on 21.

Kallis and Ntini did the early damage after taking over from Pollock and Allan Donald, who had shone as batsmen on Friday when they put on a record 132 for South Africa's ninth wicket.

Kallis took a wicket with his second delivery and finished the day with three for 52, getting the key wicket of Lara late in the day when the left-hander pulled a short ball to mid-on.

Ntini ended a hard-hitting innings of 40 by left-handed opening batsman Chris Gayle and broke a promising partnership between Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan as he took two for 51.

Pollock and Donald were unable to make a breakthrough at the start of the West Indian innings.

Gayle pounded some powerful offside drives off both fast bowlers as he dominated an opening stand of 37 with fellow left-hander Wavell Hinds.

But a double switch of bowlers by skipper Pollock brought a breakthrough.

Kallis's second ball swung in to Hinds, who edged a catch to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher. He scored only two off 46 balls.

Gayle's lack of footwork was his undoing when he was caught low down at first slip by Daryll Cullinan when he flashed at Ntini. He hit eight fours in a 71-ball innings.

Marlon Samuels was tied down by Kallis before hooking a four. In trying to repeat the shot two balls later he top-edged a simple catch to Neil McKenzie at mid-on.

Ntini made the next breakthrough after Lara and Sarwan had put on 45 for the fourth wicket. With the first ball of his second spell he had Sarwan caught at backward point for 16.

Lara was lucky when he edged Pollock low to Boucher. Umpire Darrell Hair asked video umpire Halley Moore to check whether the ball had bounced before being caught by the wicketkeeper and Lara received the benefit of the doubt.

Lara and Hooper then put on the most attractive batting display of the match. Lara was cautious early on but hit 13 fours in making his 83 off 186 balls.

Hooper made his fourth half-century in five innings in the series and finished the day on 74 off 142 balls with 11 fours.

South Africa suffered a blow when Donald left the field after tea for treatment for an undisclosed injury. He did not return and was unable to take the second new ball, which was handed to Kallis instead.