Pakistan suffered a depressing final session collapse as South Africa seized control of the game at Kingsmead.

Despite falling short of their target of a first innings total in excess of 400, the home side snapped up seven wickets in 14 overs following the tea interval.

It was a return to the frailty which cost Pakistan dear during the one-day series, and things could have been even worse had bad light not intervened to end play early.

We knew if we kept bowling in the channel and with discipline, we would get a few wickets Nantie Hayward

Makhaya Ntini and Nantie Hayward claimed three wickets each, four of them going down for one run after the tourists had reached 119 for four.

Early setback

South Africa began on 250 for five, but the loss of Jacques Kallis for 105 after only two runs had been added gave the tourists an early lift.

Kallis offered no stroke to a reverse swinging delivery from Mohammed Sami in the fifth over of play and was bowled.

Mark Boucher put on 58 with Nicky Boje

The only substantial partnership thereafter saw Mark Boucher (55) and Nicky Boje (37 not out) add 58 for the eight wicket before Sami ended the innings by bowling last man Hayward.

By doing so, he denied spinner Saqlain Mushtaq the chance of a 14th five-wicket haul in Tests - he finished with four for 119.

Openers Taufiq Umar and Salim Elahi gave Pakistan a solid start in reply, although Salim was lucky to survive on 27 when Boje floored a slip chance off Kallis.

Breakthrough

It was Taufiq who was first to go for 39 as he tried and failed to withdraw his bat from a rising ball from Hayward and gave a straightforward catch to Graeme Smith.

After reaching tea on 81 for one, Pakistan suffered a double blow as Younis Khan was lbw to Shaun Pollock for one and Salim was caught off Ntini for 39 in the next over.

Inzamam-ul-Haq (18) gave a return catch to Ntini and they could not afford the run out of Faisal Iqbal by Pollock for six.

Yousuf Youhana (12) could not cope with a lifter from Ntini and Hayward then removed Abdur Razzaq and Saqlain in the same over to leave Pakistan needing another 49 to avoid the follow-on.

South Africa: Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Boeta Dippenaar, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock (captain), Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Mornantau Hayward.

Pakistan: Salim Elahi, Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Abdur Razzaq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Waqar Younis (captain), Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammad Sami.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies), Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India).

Match referee: Gundappa Viswanath (India).