When bad light stopped play eight overs early, South Africa were 130 for six, replying to West Indies' formidable first innings total of 543 for five declared.

Collins, Powell, and King each snared two wickets to deliver some early, punishing blows to the South Africa's batting on a rain-shortened third day.

AB de Villiers has been South Africa's standard-bearer so far with 41, but Mark Boucher, not out on 32, and Nicky Boje, not out on two, will hold the key in deciding if the visitors can reach the follow-on target of 343.

Following a three-hour delay to the start of the day's cricket because early morning showers had soaked the outfield, South Africa continued from their overnight position of two without loss, but were rocking early when three wickets fell in the space of five balls.

First, South Africa captain and opening batsman Graeme Smith was caught behind for two nibbling at a ball moving away outside the off stump.

Next over, Powell, who has earned a recall after three years in the wilderness, had left-hander Jacques Rudolph caught low at third slip for a first-ball duck.

Two balls later, Powell struck again.

Jacques Kallis, who has one of the most enviable records against West Indies, was also bowled for a duck when he under-edged a pull at a short, rising ball.

More celebration was to come.

Herschelle Gibbs, another South Africa batsman who has delighted in the West Indies bowling, was adjudged lbw for five, playing back to a well-pitched delivery from Collins.

By tea, South Africa had crashed to 44 for four, but King, also returning to the side after four years out of the side, broke through a thriving partnership between Boucher and de Villiers to slow the visitors down again.

King had de Villiers caught behind off the inside edge driving off the backfoot at a ball that moved back, and four overs later, the fast bowler added the scalp of Andrew Hall caught low down at mid-on for two.

But with the gloom encroaching, Boucher and Boje defied the West Indies attack for almost an hour before umpires David Shepherd and Aleem Dar offered them the sanctity of coming back on Sunday.