Pakistan Stops the Proteas' 10-Test Winning Streak.
The left-arm pacer claimed a quartet of wickets in the second innings after failing to take a wicket in the first session.
First Test, the Gaddafi Stadium (day four)
Pakistan 378 (Imam-ul-Haq 93, Agha 93; Muthusamy 6-117) & 167 (Babar 42; Muthusamy 5-57)
South Africa 269 (De Zorzi 104; Noman Ali 6-112) & 183 (Brevis 54; Shaheen Afridi 4-33, Noman 4-79)
The hosts secured a 93-run victory
Pakistan halted the reigning champions South Africa's winning streak by achieving a 93-run margin victory in an entertaining and hard-fought first Test in Lahore.
The Proteas, whose 10-match unbeaten run in Test cricket ended with victory over Australia in the WTC final in the month of June, were bowled out for 183 chasing 277.
Having resumed on 51-2, they lost first-innings centurion Tony de Zorzi lbw to pace bowler Shaheen Afridi to the third delivery of the day to push the tightly balanced chase in Pakistan's favor.
Slow left-armer Noman Ali, who claimed 10 wickets for 191 runs in the match, dismissed Tristan Stubbs for two and bowled Dewald Brevis, who put up a fight with a rapid 54.
Off-spinner Sajid also capitalized on sharp turn to end opener Ryan Rickelton's innings - he lasted 145 deliveries for 45 - and Afridi came back in the afternoon session to dismiss the tail with a impressive exhibition of reverse-swing bowling.
He trapped Kyle Verreynne lbw for nineteen and dismissed Prenelan Subrayen and Rabada to seal the win.
It was both sides' first match of the 2025-2027 Test championship cycle and moves Pakistan straight into second place behind table-toppers the Australian team.
Their victory was built around key performances of 93 by opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq and, importantly, number seven Agha which lifted them to 378.
From there slow bowlers Noman and Sajid Khan took advantage of favourable home conditions, as they had in their series victory over England the previous year, to maintain their lead.
The second and final Test begins on October 20.
