Smith steadies SA innings

Lara went on to score 196, falling just short of what would have been his first test double century on his home ground when he was bowled by Andre Nel for 196 to end West Indies’ innings. His innings also saw him leapfrog Sunil Gavaskar (10,122) and Sachin Tendulkar (10,134) into third place on the list of all-time leading run-scorers in Test cricket.

Mkhaya Ntini claimed his fifth wicket in the fifth over of the morning when Courtney Browne edged a ball on to his thigh pad and into the hands of Jacques Rudolph at short-leg. Browne scored 26, and his dismissal ended a stand of 74 for the seventh wicket scored with Lara.

The innings ended when Lara pushed forward to a delivery from Nel, missed it and looked back to see the ball had clipped the top of his off-bail. Nel celebrated by leaping up and down, even as the crowd fell silent.

South Africa, who resumed on 182-3, had a 15 minute break after fast bowler Reon King delivered the first over. The extra moisture failed to hamper Smith, who went to his century in the sixth over of the day with a single to third man off medium pacer Dwayne Bravo.

The West Indies took the new ball in the 16th over of the morning, three overs after it was due. Twelve balls later nightwatchman Monde Zondeki was comprehensively bowled by left-arm fast bowler Pedro Collins for 14.

Zondeki delayed the West Indies’ progress for 59 balls, and he shared a stand of 41 with Smith for the fourth wicket. Bravo took 2-49 from 19 overs.

Brief scores: West Indies: 347 (Lara 196, Ntini 6-95) vs South Africa: 238-4 (Smith batting 126, A.Villiers 33, J.Kallis 39, Bravo 2-49)