Pakistan took just 41 balls to complete an eight-wicket victory over South Africa in the first Test on Tuesday, their first ever home Test win over the South Africans.

Pakistan resumed on 137 for one, requiring 24 more runs for victory, and needed only 24 minutes to get them as they finished on 164 for two.

Shoaib Malik hit South Africa captain Graeme Smith to the mid-wicket boundary for the winning runs.

Taufeeq Umar was the only wicket to fall on the final day, the opener completing a fine match in his comeback following a knee injury.

Umar, declared joint man-of-the-match with spinner Danish Kaneria, followed up his 111 in the first innings with a powerful 63 off 114 balls, including nine fours.

The left-hander was unlucky to be bowled by a ball from spinner Paul Adams, who conceded 57 runs from 11 overs.

Pakistan's only other Test win over South Africa was in 1998 in Durban when fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar took five wickets.

For South Africa it was their second successive Test defeat after losing to England at the Oval in September to allow the hosts to draw the series 2-2.

The foundation for Pakistan's victory was laid on the fourth day when Akhtar and Kaneria wrecked South Africa's batting.

Taufeeq and Imran Farhat (58) then added a quickfire 134, setting a new record by posting their second century stand of the match, the first time in 296 Tests that Pakistan enjoyed century opening partnerships in both innings.

Smith said his team had under-performed.

"We let ourselves down," he said. "We didn't bowl well. We need to regroup now to square this series.

"I think the fourth morning was a crunch session for us and we gave it away to Pakistan and came under pressure."

Pakistan's stand-in skipper Yousuf Youhana said the youngsters had lifted the team.

"Although they were great performances from Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria, Taufiq Umar and Shoaib Malik, it was a total team effort from us," he said. "I think we played better on this wicket."

Umar said he had enjoyed batting on a good wicket.

"It was a pressure match for me since I was coming back after a injury. But I enjoyed batting with Imran Farhat," he said. "Our bowlers did a wonderful job on this wicket and laid the foundation for victory."

South Africa made 320 in their first innings and 241 in the second. Pakistan scored 401 in their first innings.

The second and final Test starts on Friday in Faisalabad.

ScoreboardSouth Africa (1st innings): 320 (M.Boucher 72, G.Kirsten 53; Shoaib Malik 4-42)

Pakistan (1st innings): 401 (Taufiq Umar 111, Asim Kamal 99; P.Adams 7-128)

South Africa (2nd innings):
G.Smith c Taufiq Umar b Shoaib Akhtar 12
H.Gibbs c Taufiq Umar b Shoaib Akhtar 59
B.Dippenaar c Yousuf Youhana c Shoaib Akhtar 27
J.Kallis c Moin Khan b Shoaib Akhtar 18
N.McKenzie b Danish Kaneria 14
G.Kirsten c Yousuf Youhana b Danish Kaneria 46
M.Boucher c Imran Farhat b Danish Kaneria 15
S.Pollock b Danish Kaneria 18
P.Adams lbw Danish Kaneria 0
A.Nel b Mushtaq Ahmed 0
M.Ntini not out 0.

Extras: (b-1, lb-11, nb-20) 32

Total: (all out) 241

Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-104, 3-108, 4-149, 5-149, 6-192, 7-237, 8-238, 9-241.

Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 14.3-2-36-4 (3-nb), Mohammad Sami 19.3-0-77-0 (15-nb), Mushtaq Ahmed 8-1-18-1, Shoaib Malik 14-0-52-0, Danish Kaneria 28.3-8-46-5 (2-nb).

Pakistan (2nd innings):
Taufiq Umar b Adams 63
Imran Farhat c Gibbs b Smith 58
Yasir Hameed not out 20
Shoaib Malik not out 8.

Extras: (lb-6, w-5, nb-4) 15

Total: (for two wickets) 164

Fall of wickets: 1-134, 2-141

Did not bat: Yousuf Youhana, Asim Kamal, Moin Khan, Mohammad Sami, Mushtaq Ahmed, Danish Kaneria, Shoaib Akhtar.

Bowling: Shaun Pollock 7-2-21-0 (3-nb), Makhaya Ntini 6-0-24-0, Andre Nel 5-0-13-0, Jacques Kallis 6-1-30-0 (5-w), Paul Adams 11-1-57-1 (1-nb), Graeme Smith 5.1-2-13-1.

Result: Pakistan won by eight wickets.

Second Test at Faisalabad from Oct 24-28.