Ramnaresh Sarwan recovered from an injury scare to score an unbeaten 95 and slow South Africa's progress on the fourth day of the second test in Durban yesterday.
Sarwan was 95 not out with Shivnarine Chanderpaul on 21 in an unbroken stand of 56 as the West Indies, who need 394 to make South Africa bat again, reached 186 for five at tea.
The West Indies were dismissed for 264 in their first innings, to which South Africa replied with 658 for nine declared.
Sarwan was on 29 when he was felled by a short delivery from fast bowler Ntini, and was prone for several minutes while he received medical treatment before rising to continue his innings.
Chanderpaul was off the field on Sunday with a thigh muscle injury and is batting with a runner.
Sarwan and Chanderpaul kept the South Africans at bay after the visitors slumped to 130 for five in the eleventh over after lunch when Ridley Jacobs drove a ball from leg-spinner Jacques Rudolph to Gary Kirsten at mid-off to be dismissed for 15.
South Africa squandered a chance to end the sixth-wicket stand when substitute fielder Martin van Jaarsveld dropped a difficult chance at short leg off Rudolph offered by Chanderpaul on two with the total 132 for five.
The visitors resumed on 18 without loss, and lost two wickets in three deliveries to slip to 32 for two.
Wavell Hinds was bowled for 11 by an inswinging yorker from fast bowler Andre Nel, before medium pacer Shaun Pollock trapped Daren Ganga in front for 12.
Sarwan and Brian Lara added 46 in 98 minutes for the third wicket, a partnership that was ended in the fifth over before lunch when Lara played a loose shot to a ball from medium pacer Andrew Hall and was caught by Neil McKenzie in front of square on the leg side.
Lara was frustrated by the South Africans' disciplined bowling, and faced 71 balls for his 11 runs.
Five balls before lunch Carlton Baugh, on two, drove uppishly at a delivery from fast bowler Jacques Kallis and was caught by Makhaya Ntini at mid-off.
South African captain Graeme Smith did not take the field on yesterday because of a strained hamstring.
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