WEST Indies found themselves in a familiar position at the end of day three of the first Test match against South Africa on August 9 - trying to avoid a huge deficit on first innings.
West Indies closed on 145/4, still trailing South Africa by 212 runs at the Queen's Park Oval in St Clair on August 9.
The home team were in a relatively comfortable position on 114/1, but lost three wickets in quick succession and slumped to 124/4.
The batsmen dismissed during the collapse were skipper Kraigg Brathwaite for 35, debutant Keacy Carty for 42 and Alick Athanaze for three.
Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj enjoyed the afternoon at the Oval as he grabbed two of the three wickets during a productive period for the South Africans.
Kavem Hodge and Jason Holder avoided any further damage closing on 11 and 13 respectively.
Maharaj's arm may have been a bit sore after the day's play, bowling 28 overs for his 3/45.
Earlier in the day, South Africa could only add 13 runs to their overnight first-innings total of 344/8. Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican and pacer Jayden Seales grabbed one wicket apiece as South Africa were all out for 357.
Openers Brathwaite and Mickyle Louis made a watchful start in response to South Africa's total with pacers Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada bowling in tandem.
Louis, who made his debut on the West Indies tour of England last month, started to grow in confidence with a few well-timed cover drives.
On the other end, Brathwaite continued playing with his dogged style and got a life when Aiden Markram dropped a low catch at first slip to leave spinner Maharaj disappointed.
It continued to be slow and steady progress as West Indies got to 50 in the 23rd over with Louis contributing 34 of those runs.
West Indies seemed to be heading to the lunch break unscathed, but, in the last ball before lunch, Louis was bowled out by Maharaj between bat and pad.
He fell for 35 off 90 deliveries with five fours as West Indies went to lunch 53/1. At that stage, West Indies had already faced 27 overs.
The groundsmen were busy throughout the day as three rain delays interrupted play, the longest ones being two 55-minute stoppages.
Carty showed intent as soon as he joined Brathwaite in the middle.
He was not shy at the crease attacking the South African bowlers, joining Brathwaite in the twenties quickly.
Carty did make the small crowd a bit nervous at times as he survived two half chances.
South Africa had a chance to run him out with a direct throw and then Tristan Stubbs put down a tough catch running back in the covers.
Carty and Brathwaite took the Windies past 100, but just before another rain break South Africa got their second wicket.
Wiaan Mulder, fielding at mid-on, ran out Brathwaite with a direct hit to send him back to the pavilion for a sedate 35 off 131 deliveries.
Carty continued to look like he belonged at Test level and seemed set to bring up his maiden Test fifty, but playing forward to a delivery was trapped leg-before by Maharaj.
After a brief consultation wit
