South Africa posted a 195-run target for Pakistan with Reeza Hendricks's fifty in the first match of the T20I series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Pakistan bowlers made a late comeback to curtail South Africa below the 200-run mark despite Hendricks' half-century.
Put into bat first, the Proteas accumulated 194/9 in their allotted 20 overs despite a strong start.
The Proteas got off to a flying start to their innings, with returning Quinton de Kock and Hendricks putting together 44 runs inside four overs.
Ayub eventually broke the opening stand on the penultimate delivery by getting rid of de Kock, giving Pakistan a much-needed breakthrough. The left-handed opener scored a 13-ball 23, laced with five fours.
Hendricks was then joined by debutant Tony de Zorzi in the middle, and the duo ensured maintaining South Africa’s momentum with a 49-run partnership for the second wicket, which culminated with the latter’s dismissal off Mohammad Nawaz in the eighth over.
The left-handed batter made a notable contribution to South Africa's total on debut with a blistering 33 off just 16 deliveries, comprising five fours and a six.
Following his dismissal, the visitors lost two more wickets in quick succession as Dewald Brevis (nine) and Matthew Breetzke (one) fell victim to Nawaz and Ayub, respectively.
Hendricks was then involved in a brief 27-run partnership for the fifth wicket with captain Donovan Ferreira (10), followed by a 39-run stand, dominated by George Linde, until eventually being cleaned up by Abrar Ahmed in the 18th over.
The right-handed opener remained the top-scorer for South Africa with 60 off 40 deliveries, featuring five fours and a six.
Linde, on the other hand, followed suit in the next over, falling victim to Naseem Shah, after scoring a quickfire 22-ball 36, laced with four fours and a six.
Ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi further derailed South Africa's march towards a big total by dismissing bowling all-rounder Corbin Bosch in the final over, in which he gave away just six runs.
Nawaz led Pakistan's bowling charge with three wickets for just 26 runs in his four overs, followed by Saim with two, while Abrar, Naseem and Shaheen chipped in with one apiece.