The West Indies suffered a dramatic collapse before holding on for a draw in the third Test against South Africa at Kensington Oval Monday.

West Indies lost seven wickets for 48 runs after being set what seemed a straightforward task of batting out the last session. They finished on 88 for seven.

Earlier, it had been South Africa who had been under pressure. They lost threj wickets in the first hour before Daryll Cullinan batted them to safety with an innings of 82.

South Africa declared soon after Cullinan’s dismissal at 197 for nine, leaving West Indies an impossible target of 265 to win in a minimum of 28 overs. In the end they had to face 38.4 overs.

After a solid start, in which Chris Gayle and Waveli Hinds put on 34, left-arm spinner Nicky Boje started a slide when he had Hinds caught at slip.

Marlon Samuels went the same way before Gayle, who slammed 48 off 35 balls with 11 fours, went for another extravagant shot and was caught behind off Jacques Kallis.

Wickets then tumbled and there were eight men crowded around the bat as Mervyn Dillon blocked out an over from Boje. with the crowd cheering every ball safely defended.

Then Dinanath Ramnarine was warned by the umpires for timewasting as he held up play, claiming cramp with the minimum overs already completed inside the last 15 minutes. He had treatment on the field before he and Dillon secured the draw.

Ramnarine earlier had careerbest figures of five for 78. with South Africa's declaration robbing him of an opportunity to take a hattrick after he sent back Cullinan and Allan Donald with successive deliveries.

SCOREBOARD

Final scoreboard on the fifth and final day of the third Test between South Africa and the West Indies al Kensington Oval Monday:

SOUTH Al RICA: First innings

454 (D Cullinan 134, S Pollock 106 not out. N McKenzie 72: C Walsh 3-87. M Dillon 4-147)

WEST INDIES: First innings 387 (R Jacobs 113 not out. B Lara 83. C Hooper 74, C Gayle 40: J Kallis 6-67)

SOUTH AFRICA: Second innings (overnight 52/3)

Gibbs c Sarwan b Hooper 19 Kirsten c Samuels b Cuffy 0 McKenzie c Jacobs b Ramnarinc 12 Cullinan c Lara b Ramnarinc 82 Kallis c Sarwan b I looper 20 Kluscncr c Culfv b Ramnarinc 4

Boucher c Jacobs b Ramnarine 0 Pollock c I looper b Walsh 40

Boje not out 9

Donald lbw b Ramnarine 0

Extras; (Ib-3. nb-8) 11

Total: (For 9 wkts dec in 95.5 overs) 197

Did not bat: M Ntini

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 3-31. 3-36. 4-80. 5-95. 6-97, 7-167, 8-197. 9-167

Bowler OMR W

Walsh 14 3 28 1

Cuffy 10 4 28 1

Hooper 34 12 49

Dillon 4 2 7 0

Ramnarine 31.5 10 78 5

Samuels 2 14 0

WEST INDIES: Second innings Gayle c Boucher b Kallis 48 Hinds c Cullinan b Boje 8

Samuels c Cullinan b Boje 3

Lara b Klusencr 8

Sarwan b Kallis 0

I looper c Boucher b Boje 5

Jacobs c McKenzie b Boje I

Dillon not out Ramnarinc not out 0

Extras; (b-8. lb-1. nb-4)

Total: (For 7 wkts in 383 overs) 88 Did not bat; C Cuffy. C Walsh.

Fall of wickets: I -34, 2-59.3-64.

4-64.5-72,6-82. 7-82

Bowler O M R W

Pollock 5 0 24 0

Kallis 8 I 34 2

Boje 16.4 8 IH 4

Klusener 9 7 3 l(

Result: Match drawn and

South Africa lead the series 1 -0. Man-of the-match: Daryll

Cullinan.

Fourth Test: April 6 10, Antigua-