Gayle mops up tail to keep Windies in touch

The tourists resumed on 370-6, and Gayle struck with his first ball as Mark Boucher, on 28, offered a tame return catch to end a seventh-wicket stand of 71 with Ashwell Prince.

Three balls Gayle had Prince caught by Shivnarine Chanderpaul at short extra cover for 45.

Gayle took his third wicket with the last ball of his next over when he bowled Makhaya Ntini for four, and the innings ended six overs later when Gayle bowled Andre Nel for six.

Off-spinner Gayle finished with figures of 4-50 from 37.5 overs but he did less well with the bat, falling for one when he pushed at a slanted delivery from fast bowler Ntini and edged a catch to AB de Villiers in the gully.

South Africa wasted an opportunity to dismiss Sarwan for four when Jacques Rudolph at short-leg failed to lay a hand on a looping chance created by another fierce Ntini delivery. (Reuters)

Brief scores: WI: 347 and 26-1 vs SA: 398 (G.Smith 148, J.Kallis 39, A.Prince 45, Collins 2-78, Bravo 2-98, Gayle 4-50).