Captain AB de Villiers led from the front with an unbeaten 89 as South Africa claimed a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening one-day international at Mount Maunganui.
The tourists looked in a spot of trouble as they slipped to 97 for four chasing New Zealand's 230 all out - built around Luke Ronchi's ODI-best 99 - but de Villiers and JP Duminy shared in an unbroken 139-run partnership to guide the Proteas home with 11 balls to spare.
That broke the record for South Africa's highest fifth-wicket stand against New Zealand, which was the 138 made by Jonty Rhodes and Mark Boucher in the 2001/02 season, and ensured the tourists took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Man of the match de Villiers faced 85 balls and struck nine fours in scoring his 39th ODI half-century while Duminy's 58 came off 72 deliveries and included two sixes - the second of which sealed victory - and three fours. It was Duminy's 20th ODI fifty.
De Villiers and Duminy were not the only South Africa players to enjoy a memorable match, with 21-year-old Quinton de Kock joining an exclusive list of wicketkeepers to have made six dismissals in an ODI after claiming five catches and a stumping in New Zealand's innings.
That feat had only been managed on 13 previous occasions, six of which were achieved by Australia great Adam Gilchrist.
It was also a day that New Zealand stumper Ronchi will not forget in a hurry either, albeit for mixed reasons.
Ronchi put on a national-record 74 runs for the last wicket with Trent Boult to dig New Zealand - playing their first ODI since January - out of a big hole at 156 for nine but, with his maiden international century agonisingly close, the 33-year-old fell as he nicked Dale Steyn behind to de Kock.
Ronchi's superb 99 came off 83 balls and saw him strike three sixes as well as 11 fours, but his dismissal brought an end to the Black Caps' innings with almost five overs unused in what was New Zealand’s first international match at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on the North Island.
Vernon Philander, back after a hamstring injury, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir and Ryan McLaren each took two wickets apiece for the Proteas, who can now clinch the series at the same venue in the second ODI on Friday.