Debutants Bilawal Bhatti and Anwar Ali spurred Pakistan to victory after their team had been in deep trouble in the first one-day international against South Africa at Newlands on Sunday.
The newcomers shared an eighth-wicket stand of 74 to rescue Pakistan from a precarious 7-131, then shared five wickets as Pakistan won by 23 runs.
Pakistan made 9-218 in their 50 overs after winning the toss. Despite a half-century from returning veteran Jacques Kallis, South Africa were bowled out for 195.
Bhatti (39) and Ali (43 not out) prospered after Pakistan's recognised batsmen struggled against a strong South African pace attack.
Bhatti, 22, took 3-37 in South Africa's innings, while Ali, 25, claimed 2-24, including the crucial wicket of Kallis, bowled for 50. Bhatti and Ali shared the man of the match award and earned high praise from captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
"I am very happy, especially as the two youngsters set it up. The plan was to negotiate the new ball, then accelerate but we kept losing wickets at the wrong time. It was not a good total but the bowlers did really well," said Misbah.
For the first time since South Africa began their rise to the top of the Test rankings, the hosts fielded all three of their leading fast bowlers - Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel - in the same one-day side.
With Kallis returning for his first one-dayer since February 2012, South Africa applied relentless pressure as Pakistan struggled. But Bhatti and Ali, who have both scored first-class centuries despite primarily being picked as bowlers, went for their shots to keep their side in the game.
Steyn took 3-33 and Morkel 3-39, while Philander claimed 1-37.
Steyn was later fined 10 per cent of his match fee for using offensive language at the end of his second over and soon after being hit for six by Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad.
Bhatti and Ali put on 74 off 70 balls. Bhatti made his 39 off 25 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes, while Ali hit six fours in a 55-ball innings.
South Africa suffered an early blow when Hashim Amla exposed his leg stump and was bowled by Junaid Khan in the third over of their innings. Graeme Smith followed in the next over, stumped by Umar Akmal off Mohammad Hafeez, although it was a fortuitous dismissal for the wicketkeeper as the ball bounced off his gloves, onto the ground and into the stumps while Smith's foot was momentarily off the ground.
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