A standout four-wicket haul from Vernon Philander has put South Africa in complete control against the West Indies at the end of day three in the first Test at Centurion, with the visitors crumbling to a poor total in their first innings.

Coming out for the final session at 184-6, the Windies were skittled out in no time at all as they could only reach 201 all out, with Philander and company carrying on from good work in the afternoon session.

The tourists were unable to reach their follow-on target, leading Kraigg Brathwaite and Devon Smith to bring their side back out to face a hostile period of bowling from the Proteas in the evening.

Unfortunately, they were unable to mimic their early positive start from the first innings, as Philander had Smith caught for just five before Morne Morkel removed Brathwaite for a solitary 20.

The West Indies will resume day four on 76-2, 275 runs short of South Africa's first-innings total with just eight wickets remaining.