Proteas in full control against Pakistan

South Africa are well placed to open up a 2-0 Test series lead against Pakistan after reducing the tourists to 2-37 in their second innings on day three at Newlands.

After the hosts were dismissed for 431 - to open up a 254-run lead - Pakistan lost the wickets of Imam-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali cheaply before lunch.

Pakistan was still 217 runs behind and needs to make its highest score of the series just to make South Africa bat again.

Dale Steyn removed ul-Haq in the fourth over for six and Kagiso Rabada had Ali lbw for six with the quick bowler's first delivery of the innings.

That dismissal was the result of an unpredictable low bounce off the Newlands surface, which was criticised on Day 2 by Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur as weighted too far in favour of the quick bowlers and not good enough for Test cricket.

Pakistan scored 177 in its first innings.