The tourists came into the fourth day on 51-2, still 226 runs shy of reaching a target of 277 in what was a dry, turning pitch at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The Proteas' hopes took a nose-dive in the first over of the day when first-innings centurion Tony de Zorzi was trapped in front by fired-up Shaheen Shah Afridi without adding to his overnight 16.
Tristan Stubbs did not last long and it was 55-4 as the batter was caught at first slip off spinner Noman Ali going for a reverse-sweep.
Dewald Brevis joined Rickelton at the crease and immediately showed some positive intent, striking six fours and and two sixes in a run-a-ball 54.
The partnership of 73 came to an end when Noman Ali produced a peach of a delivery to dismiss Brevis, the left-arm spinner getting one pitch on middle and turn just enough clip the off-stump.
The wicket of Brevis came as a relief to Pakistan as the batter looked to bring the visitors back into the contest but with the dismissal the score was 128-5.
Rickelton's 192-minute stay the crease that showed immense powers of concentration came to an end when right-arm off-spinner Sajid Khan had the left-handed caught at slip for 45.
It was now just a matter of time before the result was confirmed and Afridi came back into the attack and cleaned up the tail to finish with figures of 4-33 as the Proteas were bowled out for 183.
The tourists will look back on the first innings of game when they had Pakistan reeling at 199-5 but the home team still went on to get a total of 378.
The big positive that the visitors can take ahead of the must-win second and final Test that starts in Rawalpindi on Monday is spinner Senuran Muthusamy finishing with 11 wickets in the match.
On the batting front, De Zorzi's 104 in the first innings, Rickelton's 71 and 45 and Brevis' half-century is what they can cling to as they look to square the series.
The Proteas Women have secured a spot in the ICC Women's World Cup semifinals after the game between New Zealand and Pakistan was abandoned because of rain in Colombo.
Temba Bavuma has been included in the South Africa A side for a first-class fixture next month to prove his fitness ahead of the Proteas' Test series in India.
Pakistan were in with an opportunity for a massive upset against England at the ICC Women's World Cup but the game was eventually abandoned due to persistent rain in Colombo.
A dramatic third day in the first Test between Pakistan and the Proteas saw 16 wickets fall, as spin ruled at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
