CAPE TOWN (Reuters):

South Africa and Pakistan were both bemused by the pitch after 15 wickets fell on day one of their deciding third Test yesterday.

South Africa reached 131 for five at the close after choosing to bowl first and skittling out Pakistan for 157.

Makhaya Ntini and Jacques Kallis gave South Africa the upper hand. Paceman Ntini took four for 44 and seamer Kallis picked up four for 42, while their captain Graeme Smith (64) led the hosts to 131 for five at the close.

The pitch, grassy at one end and bare at the other, offered the fast bowlers bounce and movement off the seam and sharp turn to Pakistan leg spinner Danish Kaneria at the barren end.

Take the gamble

"We looked at the wicket and no one knew what to expect," South Africa coach Mickey Arthur told reporters. "We decided to take the gamble with a view to bowling them out cheaply, getting a nice lead and bowling them out again. "There's always something in the pitch, it's difficult to bat on and you're never in," he said. "There's bounce and lateral movement, especially when the ball is quite hard."

Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who scored 83, more than half his team's total, said: "I've never seen a pitch like this, it's a two-coloured pitch. It's not an easy pitch to bat on early in your innings but when you get in and play each ball on its merit it does become easier."