Graeme Smith's ninth Test century put South Africa in the lead on the third day of the second Test against the West Indies in Port of Spain on Sunday.
South Africa were 370 for six at stumps, a lead of 23 runs over the West Indies' first innings of 347.
Opener Smith batted solidly and drove with authority as he notched 148 off 313 balls with 17 fours.
His hundred was greeted with a smattering of applause from the same crowd that celebrated Brian Lara's 27th Test century, a West Indian record, with gusto on Friday.
Lara went on to score 196.
Ashwell Prince, who was 41 not out, and Mark Boucher, who was undefeated on 28, put South Africa ahead during their stand of 67 for the unbroken fifth wicket.
South Africa resumed on 182 for three and rain interrupted play for 15 minutes after fast bowler Reon King delivered the first over.
The extra moisture failed to hamper captain 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 shared a stand of 41 with Smith for the fourth wicket.
Smith and Herschelle Gibbs kept the runs trickling in until the 15th over before tea, when Smith was trapped in front by part-timer Wavell Hinds with the first ball after the mid-session
Gibbs and Prince took South Africa past 300 with cautious batting before Gibbs was bowled for 34 by a delivery from Collins that kept low.
Prince and Boucher scored slowly but surely to nudge South Africa ahead in the 14th over before stumps.
Prince offered a chance on 24 with the total 343 for six when he pulled a ball from King to mid-wicket, where Donovan Pagon dropped what should have been a straightforward catch.
Scorecard
West Indies 1st innings 347 (B. Lara 196; M. Ntini 6-95)
South Africa 1st innings (Overnight: 182-3)
G. Smith lbw b W. Hinds 148
A. Villiers c Chanderpaul b King 33
J. Rudolph c Browne b Bravo 8
J. Kallis lbw b Bravo 39
M. Zondeki b Collins 14
H. Gibbs b Collins 34
A. Prince not out 41
M. Boucher not out 28
Extras (b-2 lb-2 nb-20 w-1) 25
Total (for 6 wickets, 157 overs) 370
Fall of wickets: 1-70 2-86 3-181 4-222 5-274 6-303
To bat: N. Boje, M. Ntini, A. Nel
Bowling: Collins 29 - 5 - 78 - 2 (nb-10) Powell 22 - 3 - 86 - 0 (nb-1) King 26 - 7 - 50 - 1 (nb-8) Bravo 32 - 7 - 79 - 2 (w-1) Gayle 33 - 17 - 41 - 0 Chanderpaul 2 - 0 - 6 - 0 W. Hinds 8 - 5 - 9 - 1 Sarwan 5 - 0 - 17 - 0 (nb-1)
© 2025