Brian Lara and Ridley Jacobs resurrected West Indies' first innings with half-centuries on the first day of the second test against South Africa on Friday.
But fast bowler Makhaya Ntini kept the home side on top as West Indies, who were put into bat on a lively pitch, reached 205 for eight at tea with Vasbert Drakes on 20 and Adam Sanford on six.
Captain Lara (72) and Jacobs (58) added 98 for the sixth wicket after West Indies had slumped to 57 for five at lunch.
Ntini took two of the three wickets to fall after he interval to finish the session with four for 52.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith asked the visitors to bat on a seaming pitch and under overcast skies that aided swing bowling after rain delayed the start of play for 30 minutes.
Smith's decision was vindicated by the fact that all five dismissals were effected in the arc behind the wicket.
Wavell Hinds started the slide without a run on the board when he attempted to leave the last ball of the first over from Shaun Pollock, and
edged it to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
In his next over, Pollock found the outside edge of Ramnaresh Sarwan's bat and the catch flew to Jacques Kallis at second slip to dismiss Sarwan for four.
Ntini first struck in the sixth over when Daren Ganga, on six, prodded outside his off-stump and was caught by Pollock at first slip.
Twelve balls later West Indies slumped to 17 for four when Ntini had Shivnarine Chanderpaul caught by Andrew Hall at third slip for a duck.
Lara and Carlton Baugh kept the south Africans at bay until 10 balls before lunch, when Baugh's edged drive off pace bowler Andre Nel was caught at second slip by Kallis. Baugh hit four fours in his 21.
The West Indies might have been 58 for six eight balls after unch when Lara, on 13, edged a delivery from Ntini to Hall at hird slip. Hall dropped a sharp chance to his left hand.
South Africa squandered another opportunity to break the partnership when Boucher spilt a difficult chance offered by Jacobs on 33 off Nel's bowling.
Lara and Jacobs were eventually separated 13 overs before tea after Lara failed to avoid a short delivery from Ntini and was caught by Pollock at first slip. He had faced 111 balls and hit 12 fours.
Four overs later Jacobs was trapped in front by Nel having faced 69 balls and stroked 11 boundaries.
West Indies were 191 for eight when Ntini bowled Mervyn Dillon through the gate for six.