West Indies in trouble

Ashwell Prince makes a battling 98 to put South Africa in prime position © Getty Images

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South Africa put themselves in a strong position to level the series with West Indies after they dominated day three of the second Test in Cape Town.

A wicket apiece for Jacques Kallis, Andre Nel, Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini in the final session limited the the Windies' second innings to 96 for four at stumps - a lead of just 18.

Ashwell Prince had earlier handed his side a valuable 78-run lead with a stoical 98 as the Proteas were bowled out for 321 in their first innings.

The hosts had resumed on 218 for five, but it was Chris Gayle's side who enjoyed the early fortune as Mark Boucher, Paul Harris and Nel gave away their wickets in the morning session.

Boucher made 59 - his half-century came off 129 balls - before he dragged an attempted pull off Dwayne Bravo on to his stumps.

Daren Powell then claimed the wicket of Harris, who edged the ball to Runako Morton at second slip after he misjudged a drive through the leg side.

Nel made a conservative five before edging Powell to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, but Prince kept his focus to reach lunch unbeaten on 88 to help his side to 287 for eight.

Andre Nel claims the wicket of Marlon Samuels in West Indies' response © Getty Images

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After the interval Prince, who faced 225 balls, fell just short of his century when he was run out after neat work in the field from Jerome Taylor.

Steyn ensured the tail wagged with a rapid 19 before spinner Rawl Lewis ended the innings with his only wicket of the match.

All-rounder Bravo was the pick of the West Indies attack - he finished with 4-82 off 37 overs.

West Indies openers Daren Ganga and Ramdin survived a tricky 17-over period before tea to get their second innings off to a solid start but South Africa seized control of the match in the final session.

Ramdin, promoted to open the batting with Ganga while Gayle rested a hamstring injury, was the first wicket to fall after tea when he got a thin edge on a virtually unplayable delivery from Kallis and Boucher took the catch.

Steyn struck an over later to remove new Morton with a fine delivery outside off stump which he nicked to Boucher.

Ganga was the next wicket to fall, in the 40th over, after he made a patient 22.

Ntini angled a full delivery into the batsman and the ball took a thick inside edge off his weak forward defence before it cannoned into the stumps.

Seven overs later Nel had Marlon Samuels, betrayed by a lack of footwork, leg before for 18.