Pakistan Ends South Africa's 10-match Winning Streak.
The left-arm pacer secured a quartet of wickets in the second innings following failing to take a wicket in the initial innings.
First Test, the Gaddafi Stadium (the fourth day)
The home side 378 (Imam 93, Agha 93; Muthusamy 6-117) & 167 (Babar 42; the spinner 5-57)
The visitors 269 (De Zorzi 104; Noman 6-112) & 183 (Brevis 54; Shaheen 4-33, Noman 4-79)
The hosts secured a 93-run victory
Pakistan halted world champions South Africa's winning streak by sealing a 93-run margin victory in an thrilling and competitive opening Test in Lahore.
The Proteas, whose 10-match unbeaten run in Test cricket culminated in a win against Australia in the WTC final in the month of June, were dismissed for 183 chasing 277.
Starting the day on 51-2, they lost first-innings centurion Tony de Zorzi leg before wicket to left-arm quick Shaheen Afridi to the third delivery of the day to shift the tightly balanced run chase in the home team's favour.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who claimed 10 wickets for 191 runs in the match, dismissed Tristan Stubbs for 2 and clean bowled Dewald Brevis, who offered some resistance with a rapid 54.
Off-spinner Sajid also capitalized on significant spin to end opening batsman Ryan Rickelton's stay - he faced 145 balls for 45 - and Afridi returned in the afternoon session to dismiss the tail with a fine display of reverse swing.
He had Verreynne leg before for nineteen and dismissed Prenelan Subrayen and Kagiso Rabada to secure the victory.
It was both sides' first match of the 2025-2027 Test championship cycle and moves the hosts directly into second place behind leaders the Australian team.
Their victory was built around key performances of ninety-three by opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq and, crucially, number seven Salman Agha which boosted them to three hundred and seventy-eight.
After that spinners Noman and Sajid Khan took advantage of favourable home conditions, as they had in their series victory over the English team the previous year, to maintain their advantage.
The second and final Test begins on October 20.
