Kirsten (left) and Kallis broke a 74-year South African record

Record-breaking South Africa set West Indies on the path to an innings defeat on day three of the second Test.

A South African record fourth-wicket stand of 249 between Jacques Kallis and Gary Kirsten helped the hosts to 658-9, their highest against the Windies.

Kallis made 177 while Kirsten became the first South African to score 7,000 Test runs during his knock of 137.

Still 376 short of making South Africa bat again, West Indies closed on 18-0 after the hosts declared late on.

South Africa's previous highest score against the Caribbean outfit was 561, scored in the first Test of this series. Their best of all-time, 682-6, was scored against England at Lord's this year.

It was also the highest Test total ever scored in South Africa.

The marathon efforts of Western Province pair Kallis and Kirsten eclipsed the 214 set by Herbie Taylor and Nummie Deane against England at The Oval in 1929.

Kirsten became the first South African to score 7,000 Test runs

But they were helped by some poor West Indian fielding.

Six chances were dropped on the day, including three in the first hour as Kallis and Kirsten put on 158 unbroken runs in the morning session.

Skipper Brian Lara dropped Kirsten in the slips off Dillon after the South African had made just 22.

Then Kirsten survived again after reaching 41, Vasbert Drakes missing a sharp chance in gully.

Earlier, Drakes just failed to get a hand to a pull shot from Kallis off Fidel Edwards.

Kallis went on to bring up his 13th Test century by cracking three boundaries in the over before drinks.

Kirsten then clobbered Drakes for four consecutive boundaries before hitting two off Ramnaresh Sarwan just before lunch to register his 20th Test century, only the 22nd player to achieve that feat.

Kirsten continued to score freely until the afternoon drinks break but then holed out to Drakes off Sarwan, bringing an end to his 20-boundary innings.

Kallis fell just before tea when cutting Dillon to Daren Ganga at point, but there was no let-up for the Windies.

Neil McKenzie (32), Shaun Pollock (38 not out) and Andrew Hall (32) threw the bat without fear of consequence as the massive total swelled even further.

Home skipper Graeme Smith allowed his pacemen 10 overs before stumps, but Wavell Hinds and Daren Ganga held them at bay.

Monday is another day, however, and the Windies face an unenviable task to avoid a heavy defeat.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher (wkt), Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel.

West Indies: Brian Lara (capt), Ridley Jacobs, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Daren Ganga, Carlton Baugh, Vasbert Drakes, Merv Dillon, Fidel Edwards, Adam Sanford.