Live Cricket Score of South Africa vs West Indies, 3rd Test, Day 1 at Cape Town: South Africa look to clinch series

It took Dale Steyn just two deliveries after changing ends to end Kraigg Brathwaite's cautious vigil at the crease. Playing a good length delivery on the channel, the batsman looked to force it on the off-side with hard hands. The thickish outside edge carried to the left of gully, where Dean Elgar completed a nice catch low down.

West Indies 30/1 at drinks in the opening session.

Devon Smith, having batted solidly to reach 47, fell on the stroke of lunch, when he chose an ill-advised cut short against debutant Simon Harmer, to a delivery that was not short enough. He rocked back looking to cut, missed and the ball crashed onto the stumps. Crucial breakthrough for South Africa just when West Indies looked to have won that first session.

Devon Smith and Leon Johnson had taken West Indies to a solid 80/1 after skipper Denesh Ramdin won a third consecutive toss and elected to bat. The Newlands pitch hid no demons apart from a few deliveries that kept low. Smith and Brathwaite did well to see off the opening burst from Steyn and Philander before the Steyn switched ends to have Brathwaite nicking one to gully. Devon Smith, in particular was solid with his backfoot play despite surviving nervy moments early on while facing Morne Morkel. Under-fire, Leon Johnson, got a flurry of boundaries just before lunch to bring up the 50 partnership between the two. Just when West Indies looked to have won the opening session, debutant Simon Harmer dismissed the well-set, Smith, for 47, last ball before lunch to even the session.

Denesh Ramdin won his third consecutive toss in the series even as South Africa included a debutant for a third straight game. Breaking the trend of the opening two games, however, Ramdin opted to bat first on a hard looking Newlands surface. The West Indies think-tank however replaced Kenroy Peters with the returning, Jermaine Blackwood. South Africa also made one change to their line up from the Port Elizabeth Test. Offspinner, Simon Harmer came in for the under-fire Imran Tahir.

As expected, the pitch is said to have something for the bowlers early on Day 1, before easing out on the second and third days. Spinners (hear Benn and Harmer) are expected to get assistance on the 4th and 5th days.

Leon Johnson chanced his way to 54 but was trapped in front of the stumps to become debutant Simon Harmer's second victim. Bowling round the wicket to the left-hander, Harmer got one to go straight with the arm. Johnson played all-around that and was caught dead in front of the stumps. An easy decision for the umpire.

West Indies 131/3

South Africa are hot favorites to win the final Test of the series against the West Indies at Cape Town and clinch the series 2-0. They won the 1st Test in Centurion but the 2nd match ended in a draw. In fact, South Africa have already retained the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy, as West Indies can't win the series.

For the Windies, Marlon Samuels and Kraigg Brathwaite showed fine form in the 2nd Test in Port Elizabeth but they need more from others. In particular, Shiv Chanderpaul, the experienced batsman, who has struggled for runs needs to step up to the plate. In the bowling department, with Kemar Roach injured, they lack an attack leader.

South Africa looked like a well-oiled unit in the second Test. However, they are set to play Simon Harmer, the off-spinner, in place of the inconsistent, Imran Tahir at Cape Town.