Saim Ayub hit a superb 109 and Salman Agha starred with bat and ball as Pakistan beat South Africa by three wickets in the first one-day international at Boland Park on Tuesday.

The left-handed Ayub and Salman (82 not out) shared a fifth wicket partnership of 141, rescuing Pakistan from 60 for four.

Salman, who earlier had career-best bowling figures of four for 32 as South Africa were restricted to 239 for nine, was named man of the match – but he handed the trophy to Ayub.

"Without Ayub we would not have won the game," said Salman. "He was there with the new ball and he set up the game."

There were still moments of anxiety for the tourists after Kagiso Rabada had Ayub caught at fine leg with 38 runs still needed.

Two more wickets fell before Salman hit the winning boundary with three balls to spare.

Heinrich Klaasen made 86 off 97 balls in South Africa's total of 239 for nine but was forced to play more conservatively than usual after the innings stalled against Salman's off-spin.

South Africa made a rapid start with Tony de Zorzi (33) and Ryan Rickelton (36) putting on 70 for the first wicket inside the 10-over power play.

But Salman, who had taken only 10 wickets at a cost of 50 runs each in 27 previous one-day internationals, took the first four wickets in the space of 12 balls as South Africa slumped to 88 for four.

Spin bowling dominated, with slow bowlers sending down a combined 27 overs and taking seven wickets for 107 runs.

Ayub, 22, followed up an unbeaten 98 in a losing cause in a Twenty20 international in Centurion last Friday with an innings of skill and maturity,

Ayub and Salman stabilised the innings before steadily increasing their scoring rate.

The match swung dramatically in Pakistan's favour when Ottneil Baartman returned to the bowling attack in the 35th over. Baartman had taken two for nine in five overs in his first spell but Ayub hooked his first two balls for six in an over which yielded 22 runs.

South Africa suffered a blow during the warm-up when Keshav Maharaj, their premier spin bowler, suffered a groin strain and had to withdraw.

Brief scores:

South Africa 239-9 in 50 overs (T. de Zorzi 33, R. Rickelton 36, A. Markram 35, H. Klaasen 86; Salman Agha 4-32, Abrar Ahmed 2-32)

Pakistan 242-7 in 49.3 overs (Saim Ayub 109, Salman Agha 82 not out; K. Rabada 2-48, O. Baartman 2-37)

Result: Pakistan won by three wickets

Series: Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0

Toss: South Africa

Remaining matches:

December 19, Cape Town

December 22, Johannesburg