Pakistan Halts South Africa's 10-Test Victory Run.

Cricket match action

Shaheen Afridi took a quartet of wickets in the final innings after failing to take a wicket in the first session.

Opening Test, Lahore (day four)

The home side 378 (Imam-ul-Haq 93, Salman Agha 93; Senuran Muthusamy 6-117) & 167 (Babar Azam 42; Muthusamy 5-57)

South Africa 269 (Tony de Zorzi 104; Noman 6-112) & 183 (Brevis 54; Shaheen 4-33, Noman Ali 4-79)

Pakistan won by 93 runs

Pakistan terminated the reigning champions South Africa's unbeaten run by sealing a 93-run victory in an entertaining and hard-fought opening Test in the city of Lahore.

South Africa, who had a 10-Test winning streak in Test cricket ended with victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final in June, were dismissed for 183 chasing 277.

Starting the day on 51 for two, they saw the dismissal of century-maker De Zorzi lbw to left-arm quick Shaheen Afridi to the third ball of the day to push the tightly balanced run chase in Pakistan's favor.

Left-arm spinner Noman, who took 10 wickets for 191 runs in the match, dismissed Tristan Stubbs for two and bowled Brevis, who put up a fight with a run-a-ball 54.

Off-spinner Sajid also took advantage of significant spin to end opener Ryan Rickelton's innings - he lasted 145 deliveries for 45 runs - and Shaheen came back in the post-lunch session to knock over the tail with a fine display of reverse-swing bowling.

He trapped Kyle Verreynne lbw for nineteen and bowled Prenelan Subrayen and Kagiso Rabada to secure the win.

It was both sides' opening game of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle and propels the hosts straight into the number two spot behind table-toppers Australia.

The win was founded on contributions of ninety-three by opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq and, importantly, number seven Agha which boosted them to three hundred and seventy-eight.

After that slow bowlers Noman and Sajid Khan took advantage of helpful home pitches, as they had in their Test series win over England last year, to sustain their advantage.

The second and final Test starts on October 20.

William Cochran
William Cochran

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