CENTURION (South Africa), Feb 23: Kyle Abbott took seven wickets on debut to lead South Africa toward a series whitewash of Pakistan after the tourists were made to follow on in the third Test at SuperSport Park here on Saturday.

Abbott's 7-29 represented the second best figures by a South African on Test debut, and helped South Africa bowl Pakistan out for 156 in their first innings in the evening session on the second day.

That left Pakistan 253 runs short of South Africa's first-innings total, and Proteas skipper Graeme Smith had no hesitation in enforcing the follow-on. Pakistan then lost Mohammad Hafeez to the first ball of the second innings with Dale Steyn forcing the out-of-form opener to play the ball onto his stumps.

But Azhar Ali, forced to open the innings in the absence of Imran Farhat through injury, and Younis Khan survived as Pakistan reached 14-1 at stumps.

Younis, who made 33, was the highest scorer for Pakistan in the first innings that lasted just 46.4 overs.

Only Lance Klusener, who took 8-64 against India in Kolkata in 1996, has better figures than Abbott among South African debutants.

Abbott had spoken earlier in the week about the positive influence that Klusener, who coaches Abbott at South African franchise the Dolphins, has had on the fast bowler.

The 25-year-old Abbott was only picked for the third Test after injuries to Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis, but made an impact in his first over of Test cricket when he had Hafeez caught at gully by Dean Elgar.

Vernon Philander had already trapped Imran lbw for 30, and he followed Abbott's strike with the wicket of Azhar as Pakistan threw away their most successful opening partnership of the series by losing three wickets for 10 runs.

With Abbott having captain Misbah-ul-Haq caught at second slip just before tea and Steyn trapping Asad Shafiq lbw just after the interval, Pakistan were 95-5 and their long tail was exposed.

Wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed put up resistance alongside Younis for more than 10 overs, but Abbott blew away the tail with two double-wicket maidens. First, he had both Sarfraz and Saeed Ajmal caught at first slip by Smith in consecutive deliveries, and then he dismissed Ehsan Adil and Mohammad Irfan four overs later.

When Younis was trapped lbw in Abbott's next over the innings was wrapped up and Pakistan were left with a mountain to climb if they are to avoid a heavy defeat.

Earlier, fast bowler Rahat Ali produced figures of 6-127, but South Africa were able to post 409 thanks to A.B. de Villiers' 16th Test century and 74 from Philander.

De Villiers and Philander put on a record 129 for the seventh wicket against Pakistan, with each benefiting from a dropped catch early in the morning session.

Philander was eventually held by Hafeez at first slip after edging a delivery from Younis, while de Villiers was dismissed five overs later for 121 when he took on a short ball from Rahat and was well caught by Asad at deep midwicket.

Rahat secured his maiden five-wicket haul in his next over when he dismissed Rory Kleinveldt, then finished South Africa off by bowling Abbott for 13.—Agencies

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings, overnight 334-6): G.C. Smith c Younis b Ehsan    5 A.N. Petersen lbw b Rahat    10 H.M. Amla c Sarfraz b Rahat    92 F. du Plessis c Sarfraz b Ehsan    29 A.B. de Villiers c Asad b Rahat    121 D. Elgar lbw b Rahat    7 R.J. Peterson run out    28 V.D. Philander c Hafeez b Younis    74 K.J. Abbott b Rahat Ali    13 R.K. Kleinveldt c Saeed b Rahat    0 D.W. Steyn not out    5 EXTRAS (B-1, LB-6, W-6, NB-12)    25 TOTAL (all out, 103.2 overs)    409 FALL OF WKTS: 1-13, 2-38, 3-107, 4-186, 5-196, 6-248, 7-377, 8-394, 9-402. BOWLING: Mohammad Irfan 21.5-3-80-0 (3nb); Rahat Ali 27.2-1-127-6 (6nb, 6w); Ehsan Adil 12.1-2-54-2 (3nb); Saeed Ajmal 29-6-76-0; Younis Khan 6-0-28-1; Mohammad Hafeez 5-0-24-0; Azhar Ali 2-0-13-0. PAKISTAN (1st Innings): Mohammad Hafeez c Elgar b Abbott    18 Imran Farhat lbw b Philander    30 Azhar Ali b Philander    6 Younis Khan lbw b Abbott    33 Misbah-ul-Haq c Petersen b Abbott    10 Asad Shafiq lbw b Steyn    6 Sarfraz Ahmed c Smith b Abbott    17 Saeed Ajmal c Smith b Abbott    0 Ehsan Adil c du Plessis b Abbott    9 Mohammad Irfan c Elgar b Abbott    0 Rahat Ali not out    0 EXTRAS (LB-17, W-8, NB-2)    27 TOTAL (all out, 46.4 overs)    150 FALL OF WKTS: 1-46, 2-56, 3-56, 4-75, -95, 6-132, 7-132, 8-149, 9-149. BOWLING: Steyn 12-5-25-1 (1w); Philander 10-2-30-2 (1w); Kleinveldt 12-1-49-0 (1nb, 1w); Abbott 11.4-4-29-7 (1nb, 1w); Peterson 1-0-6-0. PAKISTAN (2nd Innings, following on): Mohammad Hafeez b Steyn    0 Azhar Ali not out    4 Younis Khan not out    8 EXTRAS (LB-1)    1 TOTAL (for one wkt, 9 overs)    14 FALL OF WKT: 1-0. BOWLING (to-date): Steyn 4-1-9-1; Philander 3-2-2-0; Abbott 1-1-0-0; Kleinveldt 1-0-2-0.