CENTURION, 19 January 2004 - Makhaya Ntini claimed his seventh five-wicket haul as South Africa closed in on an innings victory over the West Indies on the third day of the fourth Test yesterday.
The West Indies, who followed on 303 runs behind, were 44 for two in their second innings when bad light ended play seven overs early with Ramnaresh Sarwan on seven and Shivnarine Chanderpaul on 12.
The visitors need another 259 runs to make South Africa bat again after the home side declared their first innings closed at 604 for six on Saturday then bowled West Indies out for 301, with opener Chris Gayle top-scoring with 77.
Ntini took five for 49 in West Indies' first innings, and then ended the day with one for 14 in the second. He also struck Gayle with a sharply rising delivery, forcing the left-hander to retire hurt early in the visitors' second innings.
The visitors had resumed the day on seven without loss, before Ntini reduced them to 37 for two early on when Daren Ganga edged to second slip Jacques Kallis for seven then bowled Sarwan for 13.
Gayle and Lara then began a swashbuckling 102-run partnership, plundering 69 runs in 12 overs from Andre Nel and Andrew Hall in the first session, before Nel had Lara caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher in the last over before lunch for 34.
In the first over after lunch, Gayle was dropped by Kallis off Shaun Pollock before he hit a Ntini delivery four balls later straight to Neil McKenzie at deep point for 77.
