South Africa was in a serious pinch after Pakistan routed the top order and left the Proteas reeling at 72-4, still trailing by 121 runs in the second innings on day three of an absorbing first Test on Wednesday.
Alviro Petersen was out for 17, fellow opener and captain Graeme Smith for 32, Jacques Kallis for a duck on his 38th birthday, and Hashim Amla, the most prized wicket, was taken by left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar in the last over of the day for a mere 10.
AB de Villiers was 11 not out, and joined by nightwatchman Dale Steyn, who fended off the last five balls of the day surrounded by five fielders.Captain Misbah-ul-Haq's first test century in over two years helped the home team reach 442 and a formidable 193-run, first-innings lead.
South Africa was bowled out for 249 in its first innings. Misbah took advantage of the Proteas bowlers struggling to hit the right lines on a pitch devoid of grass for his 100 off 187 balls with eight fours.
His first hundred since an unbeaten 102 against West Indies in May 2011 in St. Kitts, built on the brilliant platform set by openers Shan Masood (75) and Khurram Manzoor, who added 15 runs to his overnight score of 131, and extended by Asad Shafiq (54).
Brief Scores
Pakistan: 442 (Khurrarm Manzoor 146, Misbah-ul-Haq 100, Shan Masood 75, Asad Shafiq 54; Vernon Philander 3/84, Dale Steyn 3/88) lead SA: 249 & 72/4 (Graeme Smith 32; Zulfiqar Babar 1-0) by 121 runs at stumps on Day 3.