A fine spell of bowling by Test debutant Abdur Rehman in the afternoon session ensured Pakistan remained in the hunt as the tourists were bowled out for 450.

But the Pakistan top-order fell away after tea to end the day reeling on 127 for five, 323 behind, following a superb spell by Paul Harris (two for 18).

It had looked to be going to plan for the World Twenty20 finalists as Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal - the latter opening the batting in place of the ill Salman Butt - put on 71 for the first wicket.

But Akmal's dismissal for 34 - trapped leg before by Harris when looking to play forward - prompted an alarming collapse.

After moving onto 42, Hafeez followed his opening partner back to the pavilion, Jacques Kallis taking a neat catch at first slip again off the bowling of Harris.

Younus Khan put on just six before he was bowled between bat and pad by Andre Nel, and Faisal Iqbal had amassed only seven when he got an inside edge to a Kallis delivery.

Misbah-ul-Haq seemed to have got himself set at 23, but then edged to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher off the bowling of Dale Steyn.

Captain Shoaib Malik and Rehman were unbeaten at stumps on nine and one respectively.

Kallis top-scored for the Proteas earlier in the day with 155 - his eighth score of 150 and above in Test cricket.