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South Africa’s first order fell to 4-106 on stumps after Faheem Ashraf’s second half-century in a row rallied Pakistan’s first innings to 272 in the second test.
After Friday’s matchday two, South Africa is now trailing the hosts by 166 points in a game they must win to draw the series.
Pakistani fast bowler Hasan Ali (2-29) grabbed his wickets for successive deliveries and Ashraf, who had scored an undefeated defiant 78, continued his good day by catching Faf du Plessis (17) to leave South Africa in trouble.
“I still believe that I am a versatile player and that the stick is my most,” said a delighted Ashraf.
Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali (1-19), who pocketed seven wickets in his first test in Karachi last week at the age of 34, secured the key wicket from Aiden Markram (32) with South Africa troubled by both the pace and the effects.
Temba Bavuma survived a lost hold and went undefeated on 15 while captain Quinton de Kock hit three successive limits off Yasir Shah for his undefeated 24 on 11 balls.
Previously, South African paceman Anrich Nortje had picked up 5-56 to beat Pakistan half an hour before tea.
Ashraf anchored Pakistan’s lower-ranking resistance with a strike that included 12 fours, before Nortje finished the innings claiming the last two wickets in three balls.
Nortje played at a menacing pace – on a wicket that lightened considerably for the stick – to win his third shot from five wickets in his 10th test.
“I think with the hard ball there is something for fast bowlers,” said Nortje, calling his own performance “really special”.
He won two wickets in the first session, including Babar Azam in the second ball of the day after Pakistan recovered on 3-145. Babar could not add to his 77 days.
Ashraf finished his half century of 97 balls with a straight line limit, having shown great patience in a stroke that lasted over three and a half hours.
When South Africa hit, Hasan, returning to the cricket test in that series after a two-year hiatus, caught Dean Elgar (15) in the last class before tea, then followed him by uprooting the next strain of Rassie van der Dussen. .
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