ST JOHN’S (Antigua), April 30: West Indies finally found line and length and restricted South Africa to 295 for four at lunch on the second day of their fourth and final Test here on Saturday. At the interval, Jacques Kallis was not out on 21, after Herschelle Gibbs was dismissed on the stroke of lunch for 23.

Gibbs and Kallis were looking to restore order, after South Africa lost three quick wickets in the space of 20 balls, when they continued from their overnight position of 214 without loss.

There was a bit of fortune for Gibbs before his departure. On 17, he top-edged a cut at a short, rising delivery from Dwayne Bravo, but first slip fielder Brian Lara could only get his fingertips to the ball.

Gibbs, looking to preserve his wicket with the interval beckoning, played defensively forward to one of Chris Gayle’s off-spin darts and gave a bat-pad catch to forward short leg to end a fourth wicket partnership of 44 and a sensational morning for the home team. Play was scheduled to commence half-hour earlier to compensate for time lost on the opening day, but a damp outfield saw cricket start at the regular time.

Opening batsmen Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, and AB de Villiers continued from where they left off the previous day, when rain spoiled their parade. Clearly intent on aggression, the two opening batsman played a few spanking strokes, but the tide started to shift, when fast bowler Dwight Washington dropped a return catch de Villiers offered on 105.

A few overs later, livewire Tino Best made the long-awaited breakthrough for the home team, when de Villiers was caught behind for 114, gloving a short, rising ball down the legside.

De Villiers hit 13 fours and one six from 173 balls in just under four and a quarter hours during which time he shared 245 for the first wicket with Smith. West Indies were able to bag two more wickets that lifted their mood and their heads.

The left-handed Smith drove uncertainly at an awkwardly bouncing delivery from Daren Powell in the next over and was caught at mid-on for 126 that contained 19 boundaries from 173 balls in a little over four and a quarter hours.

Almost three overs later, West Indies gained a bonus wicket, when Boeta Dippenaar was run out going for a third run. He flicked a delivery from Best to wide long-on and mid-wicket fielder Narsingh Deonarine chased the ball down, and hurled his return to the bowler, who relayed it wicket-keeper Courtney Browne to complete the dismissal that left South Africa 251 for three.

Smith’s side are chasing two bits of history. They are looking to give South Africa their 100th Test win, and their first hat trick of wins on a road trip.