Starting the day on 156 for five after a shortened day's play on Friday, an unbeaten half-century from Sourav Ganguly helped the tourists to 249 before Sreesanth and Zaheer reduced the hosts to 21 for three at lunch.

First Sreesanth had Graeme Smith lbw and Zaheer saw Gibbs off for a duck. Hashim Amla was next to fall, also for a duck . . .caught at second slip by VVS Laxman off Sreesanth.

That left South Africa reeling on five for three, before Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince managed to steady the ship somewhat.