The home side, who won the toss and elected to bat first, looked to be in trouble when they were dismissed for 182.

But the Pakistan batsmen failed to settle and were skittled out for a paltry 120 in 36.2 overs to allow South Africa take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Pollock obtained movement off the seam to take three for 23 from eight overs, while Ntini bowled with genuine pace in claiming two for 12 from seven.

Fiery opening spells by the new ball pair reduced Pakistan to 39 for five in the 13th over.

Pollock had Salim Elahi caught by Jacques Kallis at second slip for six and Shahid Afridi taken behind by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for 16 before bowling Yousuf Youhana for five with a devastating inswinger.

Ntini had Abdul Razzaq caught by Kallis at second slip for six and two balls later, Inzamam-ul-Haq also departed without scoring.

Fast bowler Allan Donald induced edges from Younis Khan, who scored five, and Rashid Latif, out for six, with consecutive deliveries as Pakistan crashed to 49 for seven in the 21st over.

All rounder Kallis made it 55 for eight three overs later, when Andrew Hall at extra cover dived to his left to take the catch that dismissed Saqlain Mushtaq for one.

Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis scored 46 runs in a steady ninth wicket stand, which was ended in the 32nd over when Waqar guided a delivery from medium pacer Hall to Kallis at slip to be dismissed for 18.

The match ended when Shoaib Akhtar was run out for one by bowler Lance Klusener's direct hit on the stumps at the non stiker's end. Wasim top scored for Pakistan with 43 not out.

Pakistan's plight was in stark contrast to the match two days ago, when South Africa slumped to their heaviest defeat in one-day internationals after they lost by 182 runs.

FIRST CASUALTY

Herschelle Gibbs became the first casualty of the South African innings in the eighth over, when he mistimed a drive off fast bowler Waqar and was caught low down by Razzaq at mid on for 13.

Graeme Smith and Boeta Dippenaar gathered runs efficiently in their second wicket stand of 42.

But fast bowler Shoaib had Smith caught behind by wicketkeeper Latif for 44.

That began a slide as three wickets tumbled for 11 runs in the space of 20 deliveries. Kallis was adjudged leg before to off spinner Mushtaq for four, and the same bowler had Jonty Rhodes caught at deep mid-wicket for a seventh ball duck.

Dippenaar and Boucher nursed South Africa to the 33rd over, when Boucher was trapped in front by Shaoib for 15 as the total slipped to 129 for five.

Dippenaar went next when he prodded a return catch to Afridi to be caught and bowled for 47.

Second ODI: South Africa slump to biggest ODI defeat