CAPE TOWN, SA (Reuters) - Jacques Rudolph struck a stylish century but South Africa lost a clatter of late wickets as honours were shared with West Indies on day one of the third Test at Newlands, yesterday.
Rudolph's second Test hundred was his first on home soil and helped South Africa reach 308 for six by the close after deciding to make first use of a pristine batting track.
But three wickets in the last four overs of the day spoiled what would have been a fine batting performance and brought West Indies back into a game which appeared to be drifting away from them.
Rudolph was trapped lbw by debutant left-arm wrist-spinner Dave Mohammed for 101 runs, made in nearly five hours off 215 balls with 13 fours.
It had been a chanceless innings of patience coupled with superb timing. He put on 142 for the fourth wicket with Neil McKenzie.
Nightwatchman Paul Adams soon followed, bowled by Fidel Edwards for a duck, and McKenzie perished in Mohammed's next over, edging an innocuous short delivery onto his stumps. He made 76 in nearly three hours, facing 121 balls and hitting ten fours and a six back over Mohammed's head.
South Africa's other concern was the retirement of all-rounder Jacques Kallis after he was struck on the right elbow by a bouncer from Edwards.
X-rays revealed only bruising and swelling. Kallis will return in the South African first innings, if required.
Gary Kirsten replaced Kallis and immediately looked at ease, moving fluently to 16 before top-edging a wide cut off Edwards to Adam Sanford at third man.
Earlier Sanford's double strike pegged back the South Africans.
Coming on as first change and bowling medium-quick, he broke an opening partnership worth 70 when producing a superb delivery to Herschelle Gibbs (33) that swung away late to take the outside edge through to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs.
Captain Graeme Smith followed shortly before the interval for 42, chasing a ball he might have left alone and presenting opposite number Brian Lara with a routine catch at first slip.
SOUTH AFRICA first innings
G.Smith c Lara b Sanford 42
H.Gibbs c Jacobs b Sanford 33
J.Rudolph lbw b Mohammed 101
J.Kallis retired hurt 23
G.Kirsten c Sanford b Edwards 16
N.McKenzie b Mohammed 76
P.Adams b Edwards 0
M.Boucher not out 0
S.Pollock not out 2
Extras: (b-2, lb-3, nb-10) 15
Total: (for six wickets, 90 overs) 308
Fall of wickets: 1-70, 2-90, 3-162, 4-304, 5-305, 6-305.
Bowling (to date): Drakes 18-5-39-0 (nb-3) Edwards 18-3-69-2 (nb-2) Sanford 21-3-82-2, Smith 2-0-4-0 (nb-1) Mohammed 21-4-70-2, Gayle 10-0-39-0 (nb-4).
West Indies: Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara (captain), Wavell Hinds, Dwayne Smith, Ridley Jacobs, Vasbert Drakes, Dave Mohammed, Adam Sanford, Fidel Edwards.