The Windies reached 4-82 in their second innings at stumps, still 143 behind South Africa's first innings score of 322, having been bowled out for a paltry 97 on the opening day.

Roston Chase (21 not out) and Jermaine Blackwood (10 not out) will resume on the third morning on a wicket which is starting to show variable bounce and has provided plenty of seam movement.

Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada (2-18) removed home captain Kraigg Brathwaite (seven) and Kieran Powell (14), both trapped leg before wicket.

The latter is a concussion replacement in the game after Nkrumah Bonner was struck on the helmet by Anrich Nortje in the first innings.

Nortje (2-34) grabbed the wickets of Shai Hope (12) and Kyle Mayers (12), each of them caught by Wiaan Mulder at third slip.

Earlier, De Kock anchored the South African innings with his 141 coming from 170 balls, including seven sixes. He has been the one batsman in the match so far to master the difficult pitch.

Opting out of the pressure of captaincy, de Kock batted with fluency to achieve his first century against the West Indies.

"I just wanted to get out there and bat time," de Kock said. "The runs I thought were going to come at some point.

"Just to be able to stay out there and get the team into a strong position obviously was quite satisfying."

It was his sixth Test century but first in almost two years. He had averaged a little over 12 in the four Tests before this one, so it was a welcome return to form for a player who is a crucial cog in South Africa's sometimes brittle batting line-up.

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder recorded figures of 4-75, but the pick of the home bowlers was 19-year-old debutant Jayden Seales (3-75), who was superb until De Kock got stuck into him late in the innings.

Seales is playing only his second first class game in his young career.

Australian Associated Press