Windies stage fightback

Cape Town, South Africa — A solid unbroken partnership between Leon Johnson and Marlon Samuels steadied the West Indies batting as they maintained hopes of victory at the close of the third day of the third and final Test Match against South Africa.

Left-handed Johnson closed the day with a flurry of boundaries and will resume Monday on 37 – to follow up his half-century in the first innings. The stylish Samuels is unbeaten on 26 – the pair has so far added 61 runs for the third wicket at the picturesque Newlands.

West Indies will resume on 88-2 – needing another four runs with eight wickets in hand to make South Africa bat a second time. Earlier in the day the Proteas were bowled out for 421 in reply to the Windies’ 329. AB deVilliers top scored with 148, while off-spinner Samuels (2-68) and pacer Jason Holder (2-87) were the best bowlers.

Summarized scores: West Indies 329 (Steyn 4-78, Harmer 3-71) and 88 for 2 (Johnson 37*) trail South Africa 421 (De Villiers 148) by four runs