Makhaya Ntini had an excellent day in the field for South Africa

Graeme Smith top scored with 72 as South Africa won the first of five one-day internationals against New Zealand by five wickets in Auckland.

They scraped home with only two balls to spare after being set a modest target of 226, with Shaun Pollock hitting the winning run.

New Zealand had totalled 225-8 after being put in by Smith.

Their major contributions came from Scott Styris (60) and Chris Cairns (58), who shared a stand of 91.

South Africa had begun the game in confident mood after their recent home series victory over West Indies.

And Smith was happy to back his side to chase a target under lights, despite having only one warm-up match since arriving in New Zealand.

Home captain Stephen Fleming and debutant Michael Papps launched New Zealand's innings with a 44-run partnership before Fleming was run out for 30 by Makhaya Ntini's direct hit.

Fast bowler Ntini then removed Papps for 14 and Hamish Marshall for seven, both caught by wicket-keeper Mark Boucher, and Lance Klusener dismissed Craig McMillan for nine.

Styris hit a six and six fours in his 81-ball knock

It left the Kiwis in trouble on 79-4 but Styris and Cairns steadied the innings before raising the tempo with some powerful blows.

They were separated when Ntini caught Styris off Andre Nel, who bowled Cairns four overs later for figures of 2-42 from his 10 overs.

Klusener picked up his second wicket when Jacob Oram holed out for 15 and New Zealand's final total did not appear enough to extend the in-form South Africans.

Such a view was underlined as Smith and Herschelle Gibbs launched their reply with a stand of 86.

Gibbs was caught behind off Daniel Vettori for 43 and the left-arm spinner later accounted for Jacques Kallis, who was trapped lbw for 26.

Kallis' dismissal came only two balls after Smith had been bowled by Cairns and although Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar added 60 for the fourth wickets, it took them 14 overs to do so.

South Africa were 17 runs short when Rudolph (24) gave a return catch to Styris and Boucher soon followed for a duck, bowled by Daryl Tuffey.

Post-match reaction

There were three runs still needed as Tuffey began the last over and the tension increased as Pollock failed to score off the first two deliveries.

But Pollock's nerve held as he finished on five not out, with Dippenaar unbeaten on 44.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Michael Papps, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills, Daryl Tuffey.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Jacques Rudolph, Boeta Dippenaar, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener, Robin Peterson, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel.