Pakistan defended its meager 218-9 with help from outstanding debuts by Anwar Ali and Bilawal Bhatti to win the first one-day international against South Africa by 23 runs on Sunday.
South Africa was all out for 195 at Newlands and the tourists took an early lead in the three-game series.
Ali top scored with an unbeaten 43 and then snatched two wickets, including veteran Jacques Kallis for 50, as Pakistan held the South Africans at bay. Bhatti had 3-39 to wrap up victory.
Earlier, the pair shared a 74-run stand for the eighth wicket on their ODI debuts — with Bhatti making 39 — to rescue Pakistan from 131-7 at one point after it opted to bat first.