PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — West Indies were resigned to finding a miracle to save the opening Test against South Africa after an all too familiar batting collapse left them in mayhem on the third day yesterday.

The hosts were routed for a miserable 102 – their lowest ever total against South Africa – as they conceded a first innings lead of 250.

By the close, South Africa had reached 155 for two in their second innings, an overall lead of 405 runs heading into the penultimate day of the clash at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Captain Graeme Smith, short of runs in the series, was nearing his 21st Test century with an unbeaten 79 and was partnered by Jacques Kallis on 40.

South Africa took a stranglehold on the game after lunch when a combination of senseless batting and incisive bowling from fast bowler Dale Steyn, triggered the Windies’ demise.

Resuming from their lunch time position of 65 for three, West Indies were stung by Steyn who produced a devastating spell to finish with five for 29, as West Indies lost their last seven wickets for a meagre 37 runs.

In the process, the 26-year-old right armer reached 200 wickets in Tests, becoming the fourth fastest bowler to reach the mark in his 39th match.

The regional side’s collapse was as dreadful as it was spectacular, as they lost six wickets for four runs in the space of 27 balls to capitulate to 75 for nine.

Only a last wicket stand of 27 between Denesh Ramdin, who finished 25 not out, and Nelon Pascal (2) spared them complete embarrassment.

Shiv Chanderpaul, unbeaten on 24 at lunch, started the rut when he gloved a lifter from Steyn to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher in the fourth over after the break, adding just two at 71 for four.

One run and four balls later, Dwayne Bravo mystifyingly turned his back on a short ball from Morne Morkel (4-19) which failed to bounce and gloved another simple catch to Boucher.

Narsingh Deonarine, who top scored with 29, was bowled offering no stroke to Steyn without any change to the score and debutant Shane Shillingford was lbw to the very next ball, to fall for a first-ball “duck”.

Further strife followed when Steyn beat Sulieman Benn for pace to send him on his way without scoring at 75 for eight before Ravi Rampaul inexplicably also offered no stroke to the second ball he faced and was bowled by Steyn.

Ramdin rattled off four fours in his 25 from 31 balls but Nelon Pascal (2) left him stranded when he offered a simple catch to Alviro Petersen at mid-wicket off Kallis’ medium pace, to put the Windies out of their misery.

It was a pitiful end to a Windies innings that had been revived through a 59-run, fourth wicket stand between Deonarine and Chanderpaul, after a lethal early burst by Morkel had reduced them to 12 for three early in the day.

The lanky Morkel, who claimed three for seven from seven outstanding overs before lunch, started the Windies’ woes when he sent back Travis Dowlin with the score on seven in the day’s eighth over.

The right-handed Dowlin never settled and after spending 28 nervous deliveries at the crease, edged an attempted backfoot defensive stroke to first slip where captain Graeme Smith took a smart catch low to his right.

With just two runs added, Morkel claimed his second wicket in his next over when he removed left-hander Brendan Nash for one, to a controversial catch at the wicket.

South Africa initially had their appeal for the catch turned down by standing umpire Steve Davis but after the decision was referred to third umpire Simon Taufel, the verdict was overturned though television replays proved inconclusive.

Captain Chris Gayle then compounded his side’s problems when his ill-advised pull cannoned into his stumps to see him off for six from 31 balls.

Deonarine and Chanderpaul then weathered the storm with sensible, compact batting to see West Indies to lunch before Steyn’s heroics in the early afternoon hurled the innings back into chaos.