A total of 18 wickets fell on day two of the second Test between South Africa and India in Durban, with the tourists ending on top after three chaotic sessions.
India built a lead of 166 by the time bad light brought the day to an end, despite finishing their first innings having been bowled out for only 205 in the morning as Dale Steyn claimed 6-50.
But the Proteas, who are 1-0 up in the series, then squandered the chance to take command as they were rolled over for 131 by tea with Harbhajan Singh taking 4-10 in a brilliant spell.
South Africa did manage to keep their hopes of victory alive as a string of quick wickets reduced India to 92-4 by the close.
India seemed set to rack up a considerable advantage as they reached 42 without loss, but three wickets in as many overs turned the tables.
Lonwabo Tsotsobe struck first, as Virender Sehwag was caught behind by Mark Boucher for 32 from 31 balls before Morne Morkel removed Murali Vijay for nine.
Strikes
Tsotsobe then struck for the second time to remove Rahul Dravid (two) - again caught by Boucher - and later Steyn chipped in with the prize wicket of Sachin Tendulkar (six), who edged to AB de Villiers at slip.
VVS Laxman (23 not out) and Cheteshwar Pujara (10no) put on an unbroken stand of 36 to end the day, but both sides will still have their sights set on victory.
Earlier, Harbhajan took four wickets in just 7.2 overs as South Africa were dismissed for a mere 131 by tea in their first innings at Kingsmead.
Returning bowler Zaheer Khan also claimed three wickets as the hosts were skittled inside 38 overs for their second lowest ever score at the ground.
The seamer, who missed the first Test in Centurion due to injury, showed no signs of rust as he dismissed Proteas skipper Graeme Smith for only nine after an edge behind to Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Alviro Petersen followed as Zaheer bowled the opener around his legs for 24 while Jacques Kallis (10) was the third man out with the total on 57 after being short of his ground as Sreesanth deflected a Hashim Amla drive onto the stumps.
Trouble
De Villiers (nought) and Amla, whose 33 would be the top score of the innings, were then dismissed by Sreesanth and Harbhajan respectively to take the total to 96-5.
And South Africa found themselves in deep trouble when Ashwell Prince was bowled by Zaheer (3-36) as he dragged onto his stumps after scoring only 13.
Boucher tried to steady the ship - finishing unbeaten on 16 after an hour at the crease - but the tail crumbled around him as Harbhajan skittled the lower order, with one wicket coming courtesy of Dravid's 200th catch in Test cricket.
It marked a dramatic turn around in fortunes from the early stages of the day's play, when the tourists resumed from their day one total of 183-6 and were quickly on the back foot again as Steyn completed a five-wicket haul in the fifth over of the day.
The paceman had Harbhajan (21) caught by de Villiers at third slip before claiming the valuable scalp of India captain Dhoni (35), who was caught in the deep by Petersen to hand Steyn a sixth wicket.
At the other end, Morkel was also hitting his stride and struck twice to remove Zaheer and last man out Sreesanth, both of whom fell for ducks.
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