Lunch South Africa 205 for 5 (de Kock 44*, Mulder 21*) lead West Indies 97 by 108 runs
South Africa made steady progress and only lost one wicket on the second morning of the St Lucia Test to stretch their lead past 100. Quinton de Kock took control of the innings after the departure of Rassie van der Dussen for 46.
Conditions had improved for batting from the first day and though there was still seam movement on offer, with the older ball, there was less of it. Though West Indies were able to keep the run rate down under three an over, they created just two chances in the session and will need several more to prevent South Africa from batting them out of the match in the first innings.
de Kock set the tone when he cut the first ball of the day, short and wide from Kemar Roach, through point for four and then drove the last ball of the over, full on middle, past mid-off for four more. It took West Indies five overs to find their rhythm, and they conceded 24 runs in that period, before Jayden Seales sent down a maiden over to start tightening the screws.
Kraigg Brathwaite took that as his cue to introduce spin and brought on Roston Chase at the other end. In his second over, he almost got rid of de Kock, who missed a sweep and was hit on the pads: de Kock, on 23, was given out lbw by Gregory Brathwaite but reviewed and replays showed he gloved the ball on to his pad and the decision was overturned.
West Indies kept the pressure on and Chase and Jason Holder gave away just four runs in the next four overs before van der Dussen edged to gully. The wicket was reward for Holder's persistent line outside off, which van der Dussen had approached watchfully until he was lured into playing at one.
Holder and Chase bowled in tandem for another five overs before Brathwaite brought back his new-ball bowlers for a burst before lunch. Seales was particularly impressive and tested Wiaan Mulder with outswingers outside the off stump and induced the edge, but the chance fell short of Holder at second slip. Mulder made it to lunch, his sixth-wicket stand with de Kock worth 43.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent
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