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South Africa stormed back into contention after Shaun Pollock effected a Pakistan capitulation on day three.

Pollock returned 6-78 - his 16th five-wicket haul in Tests - as the hosts were dismissed for 348 from an overnight 237-2.

South Africa reached 140-3 at stumps to turn a 70-run first-innings deficit into a 70-run lead.

Skipper Graeme Smith made a dour 65, but Shabbir Ahmed removed him late on to leave the match delicately poised.

The morning session belonged to Pollock, whose opening spell, in which he took three wickets in 21 balls for just 10 runs, sparked a collapse.

Pakistan lost four wickets for 13 runs and six wickets in all before lunch.

The 30-year old former skipper dismissed the overnight pair of Imran Farhat (128) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (23) in his first two overs.

He trapped Inzamam leg before with a straight ball before inducing first-time centurion Farhat to pull a ball straight into the hands of Robin Peterson at square leg.

Asim Kamal was then beaten by a superb ball from Makhaya Ntini to fall in the slips and Pakistan's misfortunes continued when Shoaib Malik was caught in second slip trying to evade a bouncer from Pollock.

A 32-run stand for the seventh wicket betweeen Abdul Razzaq and Moin Khan put Pakistan ahead before the latter sliced a ball from Jacques Kallis straight to Gibbs at gully.

Mushtaq Ahmed fell just before lunch when Pollock trapped him leg before for six.

Razzaq was in good touch, going to lunch unbeaten on 37, but he perished for that score after the interval when caught by sub fielder Jacques Rudolph off Ntini.

It ended his 30-run stand with Shabbir, who remained undefeated on a career-best 24.

The rout was complete 13 balls later when Pollock removed Danish Kaneria for a duck, caught by Smith.

South Africa's openers got off to a good start, putting on 42 runs at better than four runs per over.

But Gibbs, who had struck four boundaries en route to 20, was trapped in front by leg-spinner Kaneria.

Boeta Dippenaar added 51 runs for the second wicket with Smith before falling leg before to Malik.

Smith and Gary Kirsten (27 not out) looked to be steering the visitors into a commanding position, but the skipper fell three overs before stumps when Shabbir won a third lbw verdict of the innings.

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