Gibbs wrapped up victory with 25 from 17 balls

South Africa took just nine overs to reach the 45 runs required for a 10 wicket victory over Pakistan in the opening Test at Kingsmead.

The hosts completed their sixth consecutive Test victory an hour before lunch on the fourth day, with Herschelle Gibbs leading the way.

The opener pulled six off Saqlain Mushtaq and, in the next over, finished the job with successive fours off Mohammed Sami to reach 25 not out off 17 balls.

Opening the bowling, spinner Saqlain felt aggrieved not to have Graeme Smith caught behind for seven, but the opener finished unbeaten on 13.

After bowling Pakistan out 207 behind on first innings, the hosts were set 44 for victory after a 24-run last wicket stand between Sami and Waqar Younis.

Pakistan, 218 for eight overnight, saw Kamran Akmal fall early, caught behind off Makhaya Ntini for 29.

Waqar hit 15 from 28 deliveries, including a top-edged six over third man, before he was last out, gaining a leading edge to mid-on.

The Pakistan skipper was hit on the forearm while batting, and did not bowl in the short second innings.

But he said that the injury would not prevent him from playing in the second and final match of the series, beginning on 2 January.

South Africa will take the ICC Test Championship from Australia if they win in Cape Town.

South Africa: Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Boeta Dippenaar, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock (captain), Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Mornantau Hayward.

Pakistan: Salim Elahi, Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Abdur Razzaq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Waqar Younis (captain), Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammad Sami.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies), Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India).

Match referee: Gundappa Viswanath (India).