Babar stands between Proteas and victory

Simon Harmer grabbed three early wickets to boost South Africa's chances of securing a series-levelling victory over a faltering Pakistan in the second Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

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Harmer took 3-26 as Pakistan ended the third day on a precarious 94-4 -- just 23 runs ahead with six wickets and two days remaining on a spin-spiced Rawalpindi stadium pitch.

Pakistan's last hopes rest on Babar Azam, unbeaten on 49, and Mohammad Rizwan, 16 not out, as they strive to win the two-match series, having won the first Test by 93 runs in Lahore.

South Africa piled up 404 runs after Senuran Muthusamy scored a career-best 89 not out and Kagiso Rabada posted his highest Test score of 71, giving the visitors a crucial 71-run lead.

"It was a fantastic partnership, one that we will remember and hopefully put us into a really strong position tomorrow (Thursday) to win the game," said Muthusamy.

The home team scored 333 in their first innings.

With their backs to the wall, Pakistan's second innings started disastrously as opener Imam-ul-Haq (nine) and skipper Shan Masood (nought) fell to Harmer with the score at 16.