Lahore, Oct 15: Pakistan brought an emphatic end to South Africa’s remarkable 10-match winning run in Test cricket, securing a 93-run victory in the opening match of their two-Test series at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.
- First Test, Lahore (day four)
- Pakistan 378 (Imam 93, Agha 93; Muthusamy 6-117) & 167 (Babar 42; Muthusamy 5-57)
- South Africa 269 (De Zorzi 104; Noman 6-112) & 183 (Brevis 54; Shaheen 4-33, Noman 4-79)
- Pakistan won by 93 runs
Defending a target of 277, Pakistan’s bowlers delivered a clinical performance on day four, dismissing South Africa for 183. The win marked a perfect start for Pakistan in the new 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle, moving them to second place behind Australia.
After going wicketless in the first innings, left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi returned to his fiery best, claiming 4 for 33 in the second innings. Spinner Noman Ali also starred, completing a match haul of 10 wickets for 191 runs, while off-spinner Sajid Khan chipped in with crucial breakthroughs on a turning pitch.
South Africa’s hopes rested on first-innings centurion Tony de Zorzi, but he was trapped lbw by Shaheen to the third ball of the morning, setting the tone for Pakistan’s dominance. Despite a spirited 54 from Dewald Brevis, the Proteas struggled to build partnerships. Opener Ryan Rickelton’s gritty 45 off 145 balls ended when Sajid exploited the sharp turn to bowl him through the gate.
Pakistan’s victory was built on their strong first-innings total of 378, anchored by Imam-ul-Haq (93) and Salman Agha (93). South Africa’s spinner Senuran Muthusamy picked up 6 for 117 but couldn’t prevent Pakistan from gaining the upper hand.
Chasing 277, South Africa faltered under pressure, undone by reverse swing and spin. Shaheen’s late burst, removing Kyle Verreynne, Prenelan Subrayen, and Kagiso Rabada, sealed the game in dramatic fashion as the Lahore crowd erupted in celebration.
The defeat brought South Africa’s dream run—stretching back to early 2023—to a halt. It was their first Test loss since March 2023 and a sobering reminder of how difficult subcontinental conditions can be, even for world champions.
The two teams will now travel to Karachi, where the second and final Test begins on October 20, with Pakistan aiming for a series sweep and South Africa desperate to bounce back.
