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

Cricket match action

The left-arm pacer took a quartet of wickets in the final innings after going wicketless in the initial innings.

First Test, the Gaddafi Stadium (the fourth day)

Pakistan 378 (Imam-ul-Haq 93, Agha 93; Senuran Muthusamy 6-117) & 167 (Babar 42; the spinner 5-57)

The visitors 269 (Tony de Zorzi 104; Noman 6-112) & 183 (Dewald Brevis 54; Shaheen Afridi 4-33, Noman Ali 4-79)

Pakistan won by 93 runs

The national team brought an end to the reigning champions South Africa's winning streak by achieving a 93-run margin win in an entertaining and closely contested first Test in the city of Lahore.

The Proteas, who had a 10-Test winning streak in Test cricket culminated in victory over the Aussies in the World Test Championship final in June, were bowled out for 183 chasing 277.

Starting the day on 51 for two, they lost century-maker Tony de Zorzi lbw to left-arm quick Afridi to the third ball of the day to push the finely-poised run chase in Pakistan's favour.

Slow left-armer Noman, who secured 10 wickets for 191 runs in the match, dismissed Stubbs for 2 and clean bowled Brevis, who put up a fight with a run-a-ball 54.

Right-arm spinner Sajid Khan also capitalized on significant spin to terminate opening batsman Rickelton's stay - he lasted 145 deliveries for 45 runs - and Afridi came back in the post-lunch session to knock over the lower order with a impressive exhibition of reverse swing.

He trapped Kyle Verreynne lbw for 19 and bowled Subrayen and Rabada to seal the win.

It was both sides' first match of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle and propels the hosts straight into second place after table-toppers the Australian team.

Their victory was built around key performances of 93 by opener Imam and, importantly, all-rounder Agha which lifted them to 378.

After that spinners Noman and Sajid Khan utilized favourable home conditions, as they had in their Test series win over the English team the previous year, to maintain their advantage.

The next and last match starts on 20 October.

Jennifer Smith
Jennifer Smith

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