South African captain Shaun Pollock and his fellow fast bowlers sent Pakistan crashing to a 62 run defeat in the third one-day international at Buffalo Park Friday.
Pakistan, chasing a modest 183 to win, were bowled out for a paltry 120.
It was an astonishing turnaround after the tourists had hammered 335 for six in Port Elizabeth two days earlier, the highest total recorded against South Africa.
Pollock and Makhaya Ntini bowled throughout the first 15 overs as Pakistan tumbled to 39 for five with Pollock taking three wickets and Ntini two.
Allan Donald and Jacques Kallis then reduced Pakistan to 55 for eight before veterans Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis put on 46 for the ninth wicket to enable their side to avoid total humiliation.
Earlier Pakistan had seemed on target for their second successive win when South Africa were bowled out for 182 after winning the toss and batting on a good pitch.
Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar returned to action and took three for 50 in a fiery performance by the fast bowler who had missed the first match of the five-game series because of suspension and the second because of a sore knee.
Shoaib was hit for three boundaries in his first over by opening batsman Graeme Smith when he entered the attack in the 14th over.
The left-handed Smith hit another boundary in Shoaib's next over before he failed to get into line against a fast delivery which moved away from him off the pitch.
Shoaib later ended a 48-run partnership between top scorer Boeta Dippenaar and Mark Boucher when he trapped Boucher lbw.
He bowled tail-ender Donald in his final over, one ball after sending down a delivery which was timed at an electrifying 157kmh.
Dippenaar made 47 but took 81 balls to make his runs against an attack which had no weak links.
Opening bowlers Wasim and Waqar took two wickets each, as did off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, while Shahid Afridi, bowling brisk leg-spinners, was the most economical, taking one for 24 in ten overs.
But Pakistan were in trouble almost immediately at the start of their innings.
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