By Telford Vice

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Marlon Samuels and Shivnarine Chanderpaul dug in to take West Indies to 160 for three at tea on the first day of the second test on Wednesday.

Samuels was 37 not out with Chanderpaul on 34 in a stand of 83 for the unbroken fourth wicket.

West Indies, who won the toss and opted to bat, had slipped to 77 for three with South Africa's fast bowlers exploiting a lively pitch.

Dale Steyn had Daren Ganga caught behind off the outside edge by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for three in the fifth over.

Captain Chris Gayle and Runako Morton shared 59 runs for the second wicket before Morton, who scored 23, lofted a drive off Jacques Kallis to be caught by Makhaya Ntini at mid-off.

West Indies lost their third wicket when Gayle, who hit two fours and two sixes in his 46, drove loosely at a ball from Andre Nel and was superbly caught by a diving Neil McKenzie in the gully.

Samuels, who took 28 balls to get off the mark, and Chanderpaul steadied the innings with slow but sure batting.

South Africa wasted a chance to dismiss Samuels for two in the fourth over after lunch when fast bowler Ntini dropped a hard-hit return catch.

West Indies won the first test by 128 runs in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.