Shabbir came back into the side after Shoaib Akhtar's ban

Shabbir Ahmed took four wickets on his return to the Pakistan side to reduce South Africa to 256-9 on day one of the second Test.

The pace bowler, called up with Shoaib Akhtar banned and Mohammad Sami injured, took 4-63, plus a run out.

A 108-run fourth-wicket stand between Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten provided the bulk of the runs.

But Kirsten fell before tea for 54 and Gibbs shortly afterwards for 98 to leave the tourists in serious trouble.

It is close to my worst day I have had as a captain; our performance was crap Graeme Smith More reaction

Pakistan were forced to make two other changes with skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq returning in place of injured Yosuf Youhana and Abdul Razzaq taking the other bowling spot.

But they were motivated by the prospect of a first home series win over a leading Test nation since beating West Indies 3-0 in 1997.

The hosts maintained their dominance from the first Test in taking three quick wickets, with Graeme Smith first to go when was caught driving Shabbir by Inzamam for two.

The South Africa captain has scored just 140 runs in his last nine Test innings since he made double-centuries in consecutive Tests against England in July.

Gibbs fell to Mushtaq Ahmed two short of his century

Boeta Dippenaar followed for four in the seventh over as he edged to Taufiq Umar at slip.

Taufiq was in the action again as he completed the catch to remove Kallis, with Kaneria immediately finding plenty of assistance from the pitch.

Kirsten completed his 33rd Test half-century before he too was pouched by Taufiq off Razzaq for 54.

Gibbs took 11 off a single over from Mushtaq Ahmed before tea.

But the veteran leg-spinner hit back with a flipper which the opener failed to read, halting him just short of three figures.

Neil Neil McKenzie nor Mark Boucher could capitalise after getting in, both men making 27.

Shabbir's direct throw ran Shaun Pollock out for 17, and the pace bowler claimed a fourth scalp when Robin Peterson top-edged a pull to long leg.

The spinner was South Africa's only line-up change, brought in at the expense of Andre Nel.

Pakistan: Taufiq Umar, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Asim Kamal, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Shabbir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Boeta Dippenaar, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Robin Peterson, Paul Adams, Makhaya Ntini