Pakistan 161 and 250 lost to South Africa 368 and 45 for 0 by 10 wickets
Scorecard

It took only 16.3 overs for South Africa to clinch a ten-wicket win in the first Test on the fourth day at Durban. Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock shared the last two wickets as Pakistan were dismissed for 250, before Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs took South Africa to 45 for 0. All they need now is a draw in the second Test at Cape Town next week to go top of the ICC Test Championship.

Pakistan resumed on 218 for 8, a lead of 11, and it took Ntini just six balls to polish off the young wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal for 29. After a couple of boundaries Akmal pushed outside off stump and edged to Mark Boucher (226 for 9).

Waqar Younis and Mohammad Sami both hit Ntini for six in an irritating last-wicket partnership of 24, before Waqar was beautifully caught by a diving Gary Kirsten off Pollock. That left South Africa needing 44 to win, and though Smith fudged around for 13 off 43 balls, Gibbs supplied the oomph with 25 off 17 deliveries, including a six over cover off Saqlain Mushtaq.

When those pesky Australians aren't in town, South Africa's home record is quite outstanding: they've now won 28 Tests and lost only three - one of those was `Cronje's match' at Centurion in 1999-2000 – against those not wearing baggy green since returning to the fold in 1992.

Sadly for them, they've failed consistently against the Aussies – which is why most observers won't be taking their probable ascent to top spot too seriously.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd