Jonty Rhodes stroked an unbeaten 85 to give South Africa the edge over West Indies in the face of inspired fast bowling by Franklyn Rose in the third test in Durban yesterday. Rose captured a test career best of six for 75 as South Africa scored 292 for eight in reply to West Indies' first innings of 198 before bad light ended play 13.4 overs early on the second day.

Rhodes was the dominant figure in a South African fight-back after they were reduced to 80 for three during the morning session.

Daryll Cullinan (40) and captain Hansie Cronje (30) launched the recovery which was sustained by Rhodes and all-rounder Shaun Pollock (30) in a sixth wicket partnership of 80.

West Indies, already trailing 2-0 in the five-test series, needed to make early inroads when South Africa resumed at the overnight 46 without loss. Rose did the perfect job in which he dismissed Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis as the home country declined from 57 for no wicket to 80 for three.

Cullinan and Cronje put on 60 for the fourth wicket before the South African skipper was bowled by Courtney Walsh.

Cullinan and Rhodes then added 42 before Cullinan was run out. However, Rhodes and Pollock frustrated West Indies' hopes of conceding only a narrow lead with their brisk partnerhsip of 80.