Shivnarine Chanderpaul's historic innings and Daren Powell's three wickets in the final session of day two in Port Elizabeth put the West Indies in control of the first Test match against South Africa.

Chanderpaul's seventh successive Test half-century - duly converted to three figures - gave the tourists a good platform. Powell, supported by Jerome Taylor, then dislodged South Africa's top order, leaving them on 122 for five in reply to 408.

The West Indies are chasing their first Test victory outside the Caribbean since 2003, and their first against a major nation away from home since June 2000.

The South Africa innings got off to a poor start when Herschelle Gibbs fell for a duck with only one run on the board. Powell's fifth delivery caught the opener in two minds, and he feathered a catch behind to Denesh Ramdin.

Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, was trapped lbw by Taylor shortly afterwards. Jacques Kallis nicked one to slip off Taylor to go for a duck, and Hashim Amla was then brilliantly yorked by Powell, who finished with three for 40.

Brought together at 63 for four, AB De Villiers and Ashwell Prince put on 43 but when the latter edged Powell to Runako Morton, South Africa were still well adrift of the follow-on target.

Earlier in the day Chanderpaul made a watchful 104 to steer the touring side past 400 after they had resumed this morning on 281 for four.

Dwayne Bravo skied a leading edge to give Makhaya Ntini a return catch, held safely despite a collision with Gibbs, running in from gully. Ramdin then edged behind before Chanderpaul found a steady partner in Darren Sammy until he was run out.

Chanderpaul scored 104 and joined Everton Weekes and Andy Flower as the only batsmen ever to make seven consecutive Test match 50s. But, after the left-hander was bowled by Andre Nel, the tail folded.