Pakistan Halts South Africa's 10-Test Unbeaten Run.
The left-arm pacer secured four wickets in the final innings after failing to take a wicket in the first session.
Opening Test, Lahore (the fourth day)
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 (De Zorzi 104; Noman Ali 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 achieving a 93-run victory in an entertaining and closely contested first Test in the city of Lahore.
South Africa, who had a 10-Test unbeaten run in Test cricket culminated in a win against Australia in the WTC final in June, were dismissed for 183 chasing 277.
Having resumed on 51-2, they lost century-maker Tony de Zorzi leg before wicket to pace bowler Afridi to the third delivery of the day to push the finely-poised run chase in Pakistan's favor.
Slow left-armer Noman Ali, who secured 10-191 in the game, removed Tristan Stubbs for two and clean bowled Dewald Brevis, who offered some resistance with a run-a-ball 54.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan also capitalized on sharp turn to end opening batsman Rickelton's innings - he faced 145 balls for 45 - and Afridi came back in the afternoon session to knock over the lower order with a fine display of reverse swing.
He trapped Kyle Verreynne lbw for 19 and dismissed Subrayen and Kagiso Rabada to seal the victory.
It was each team's first match of the 2025-2027 Test championship cycle and propels Pakistan straight into second place after table-toppers Australia.
Their victory was built around key performances of ninety-three by opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq and, crucially, all-rounder Salman Agha which lifted them to three hundred and seventy-eight.
After that spinners Noman and Sajid took advantage of helpful home pitches, as they did in their Test series win over England last year, to maintain their advantage.
The second and final Test starts on 20 October.
