Pakistan Ends the Proteas' 10-Test Victory Run.
The left-arm pacer claimed a quartet of wickets in the final innings following going wicketless in the first session.
Opening Test, Lahore (the fourth day)
Pakistan 378 (Imam-ul-Haq 93, Salman Agha 93; Muthusamy 6-117) & 167 (Babar Azam 42; Muthusamy 5-57)
South Africa 269 (De Zorzi 104; Noman 6-112) & 183 (Brevis 54; Shaheen Afridi 4-33, Noman Ali 4-79)
The hosts secured a 93-run victory
The national team halted world champions South Africa's unbeaten run by sealing a 93-run victory in an exciting and hard-fought opening Test in Lahore.
The Proteas, whose 10-Test unbeaten run in the longest format culminated in a win against the Aussies in the World Test Championship final in June, were bowled out for 183 chasing 277.
Having resumed on 51 for two, they lost century-maker Tony de Zorzi lbw to pace bowler Shaheen Afridi to the third delivery of the day to shift the tightly balanced run chase in Pakistan's favour.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who secured 10-191 in the game, removed Tristan Stubbs for two and clean bowled Dewald Brevis, who put up a fight with a rapid 54.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan also capitalized on sharp turn to end opening batsman Rickelton's innings - he lasted 145 deliveries for 45 runs - and Afridi came back in the post-lunch session to dismiss the lower order with a fine display of reverse swing.
He had Verreynne lbw for nineteen and bowled Prenelan Subrayen and Kagiso Rabada to seal the win.
It was each team's opening game of the 2025-27 Test championship cycle and propels the hosts directly into second place after table-toppers the Australian team.
The win was founded on key performances of 93 by opener Imam-ul-Haq and, crucially, number seven Agha which lifted them to three hundred and seventy-eight.
After that slow bowlers Noman and Sajid utilized helpful home pitches, as they did in their Test series win over the English team last year, to maintain their advantage.
The second and last match starts on 20 October.
