AB De Villiers made an unbeaten 98 and Philander unbeaten on 45 as South Africa reached 334 for six.
De Villiers and Hashim Amla, who made a sparkling 92, were the only top-order batsmen to play significant innings against a three-man Pakistan bowling attack with only two Test caps between them.
Choosing to bat first, openers Graeme Smith (five) and Alviro Petersen (10) struggled as Pakistan's bowlers used the seamer-friendly conditions to their advantage inside the first hour to leave the hosts on 38-2.
Petersen's miserable series continued when he was trapped plum lbw by Rahat Ali, who returned to the side after missing the second test in Cape Town.
Faf du Plessis (29) came in at number four in place of the injured Jacques Kallis (calf strain) and after a slow start crashed three boundaries off one Adil over to get his innings up and running.
Adil got his revenge after lunch though, inducing an edge to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed after the batsman advanced down the track to the medium pacer.
It ended a partnership of 69 between Amla and Du Plessis that helped put the hosts back on track.
De Villiers and Hashim Amla, who made a sparkling 92, were the only top-order batsmen to play significant innings against a three-man Pakistan bowling attack with only two Test caps between them.
Choosing to bat first, openers Graeme Smith (five) and Alviro Petersen (10) struggled as Pakistan's bowlers used the seamer-friendly conditions to their advantage inside the first hour to leave the hosts on 38-2.
Petersen's miserable series continued when he was trapped plum lbw by Rahat Ali, who returned to the side after missing the second test in Cape Town.
Faf du Plessis (29) came in at number four in place of the injured Jacques Kallis (calf strain) and after a slow start crashed three boundaries off one Adil over to get his innings up and running.
Adil got his revenge after lunch though, inducing an edge to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed after the batsman advanced down the track to the medium pacer.
It ended a partnership of 69 between Amla and Du Plessis that helped put the hosts back on track.
