Ayub, who struck 10 fours and three sixes, holed out to a catch at deep fine leg off Kagiso Rabada, with 39 runs needed and eight overs remaining.
Two more wickets then fell quickly to put the brakes on Pakistan’s march, and offered home fans hope of an unlikely comeback, but Salman’s unbeaten 82 saw Pakistan home in a close finish.
South Africa, who won the toss and chose to bat, slumped from 70-0 to 88-4 as part-time offspinner Salman ran through their top order, finishing with 4-32 in eight overs.
The home side had Heinrich Klaasen to thank for being able to post a competitive total as he hit 86 from 97 balls to steady the innings in a 73-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Aiden Markram, who scored 35.
The second ODI is at Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday.
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