Smith gains upper hand

Graeme Smith celebrates his Test century - his sixth against West Indies © Getty Images

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A dominant unbeaten century from captain Graeme Smith capped a near perfect day for South Africa in the third Test against West Indies as they aim for a series victory.

Smith reached the milestone, his sixth ton against the Windies, in just 112 deliveries as the Proteas established a 74-run lead at stumps on day one in Durban.

Earlier, Shaun Pollock, in for spinner Paul Harris, took four wickets as the hosts made the most of the absence of skipper Chris Gayle to rip through a fragile batting order and bowl the Windies out for just 139.

Dale Steyn was first to strike, removing Daren Ganga for three, before Pollock announced his return from a one-year Test absence with a quick double.

He trapped Runako Morton lbw before inducing an outside edge from Gayle’s replacement, debutant Brenton Parchment, which Herschelle Gibbs held superbly, diving one-handed to his right at third slip.

Makhaya Ntini took care of Marlon Samuels, but it was his removal of Shivnarine Chanderpaul for a duck, caught by Kallis at second slip, which left the tourists in a perilous position at 33 for six.

Dwayne Bravo (13) and Denesh Ramdin (30) showed signs of recovery before the former became Pollock’s third victim, undone by extra bounce as Gibbs made no mistake again.

Brenton Parchment departs for just 11, one of Shaun Pollock's four victims © Getty Images

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Gibbs was again in the action to take care of Ramdin off an Andre Nel lifter and, although Darren Sammy and Jerome Taylor stayed together until lunch, the tourists were bowled out shortly after the interval.

Pollock grabbed his fourth wicket, dismissing Taylor for 25 courtesy of a fine low catch by Steyn, running in from deep fine leg.

Nel then mopped up the tail, as Sammy (28) edged to Smith at first slip and Fidel Edwards nicked to Mark Boucher in the space of three balls to leave the paceman with figures of 3-45.

It was Pollock who stole the show, though, registering 4-35 in 11 typically-disciplined overs.

Smith then took over, helping his side to tea for the loss of only the wicket of Gibbs.

The pair had put on 53 when Gibbs attempted a pull shot off Daren Powell, only to edge the ball onto his stumps when on 27.

That proved to be the extent of the tourists’ success though as South Africa piled on the runs in relentless fashion.

Hashim Amla joined Smith at the crease, but he played second fiddle to his captain, who brought up his century at nearly a run a ball.

Bravo was unable to help his hapless bowlers, whose misplaced fare was treated with disdain.

Smith reached his hundred within 35 overs, with a clipped leg-side single, before Darren Sammy spurned the tourists’ only chance of the session, when he failed to hold a diving catch to his right when Amla edged Edwards.

Amla made the most of his let-off, bagging three boundaries in the next over, bowled by Powell, and bringing up his half-century in the process.

Bad light brought an end to the Windies’ misery soon after with Smith unbeaten on 122 and Amla beside him on 55 - the pair having compiled an unbroken partnership of 160.

The three-match series is level at 1-1.