And while their batting power worked a few nifty tricks at the country club on Tuesday, their bowling, and to an extent their fielding, was put through a thrashing machine commonly known to most as Inzamam-ul-Haq.
As Arjuna Ranatunga admitted after the game there is little you can do against a batsman whose doubtful form suddenly discovered all the skill and technique which has made him one of the top test batsmen in the last two years.
He was more the babe of Imran Khan's World Cup side of 1992 than the beefy lugubrious fellow who earned the nickname of Fat Potato from critical Pakistan followers during a series against India in Canada last year. His actions after the match almost had him suspended when he went and threatened the spectators.
In Kimberley he threatened the spectators again, but this time with a series of lofted drives and pulls which landed in the braai area of the densely packed embankments. His undefeated innings of 116 not only woke the Lankans to the threat of a revitalised Inzamam. South Africa will have studdied fairly closely how theyh need to handel him at Buffalo Park in East London on Sunday.
Any side which, with an over shorn off their allotment because of a slow over rate penalty, scores 300 for six chasing 295 (for seven) in their first Standard Bank Triangular series outing. Any century off only 101 balls without giving a genuine chance becomes a worrying factor for any skipper.
Only the flatter, slower Kimberley pitch is far quicker than the old Paarl showgrounds surface.
Ranatunga's problem is not so much putting a lrage total on the board but having the bowlers to defend it. On Tuesday he failed, acknowledging a serious rethink of the bowling strategy and fielding plans while he is about it.
``If we are to be serious competitors in this tournament we need to turn our performances around,'' he said. ``At the Wanderers we gave away too many runs and batted badly. In Kimberley we scored the runs but needed to bowl and field better.
``We have had a long discussion about our problem and don't be surprised by our new plan of attack. We need to win this game. It is as simple as that.'' With Nuwan Zoysa still doubtful and Chaminda Vaas not yet 100% fit, the Lankans have their problems while Pakistan are only too thankful to get their first points.
What may be of concern to South Africa is a high-scorng match can result in a serious net run rate problem as the series reaches an interesting, if not crucial phase.