Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed hit a fifty while top-order batsman Shan Masood showed great composure during his knock of 44 but there was little contribution from the rest.
South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and duly invited Pakistan’s under-fire batting lineup to bat, a decision that was vindicated by the Proteas’ pace quartet Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Duanne Olivier, and the returning Vernon Philander.
Asad Shafiq put on a 31-run partnership with Masood, the only batsman to show any application and fight, before Shafiq and Babar Azam fell in quick succession.
Pacer Olivier picked up four wickets while Steyn finished with three.
In reply, the Proteas reached 123-2 at stumps, trailing by 54 runs.
Follow the second Test with our live score.