Pakistan Halts the Proteas' 10-Test Victory Run.
Shaheen Afridi secured four wickets in the second innings following failing to take a wicket in the initial session.
Opening Test, Lahore (day four)
Pakistan 378 (Imam 93, Salman Agha 93; Senuran Muthusamy 6-117) & 167 (Babar Azam 42; the spinner 5-57)
South Africa 269 (De Zorzi 104; Noman Ali 6-112) & 183 (Dewald Brevis 54; Shaheen Afridi 4-33, Noman 4-79)
Pakistan won by 93 runs
The national team terminated the reigning champions the Proteas' unbeaten run by sealing a 93-run win in an thrilling and closely contested opening Test in Lahore.
The Proteas, whose 10-Test winning streak in the longest format ended with a win against Australia in the WTC final in June, were bowled out for 183 chasing 277.
Starting the day on 51-2, they lost century-maker Tony de Zorzi leg before wicket to pace bowler Shaheen Afridi to the third delivery of the day to shift the tightly balanced run chase in Pakistan's favor.
Left-arm spinner Noman, who took 10 wickets for 191 runs in the match, removed Stubbs for 2 and bowled Brevis, who put up a fight with a rapid 54.
Right-arm spinner Sajid also took advantage of sharp turn to end opening batsman Ryan Rickelton's innings - he faced 145 deliveries for 45 runs - and Shaheen returned in the post-lunch session to knock over the lower order with a fine display of reverse swing.
He trapped Verreynne lbw for 19 and dismissed Subrayen and Kagiso Rabada to seal the victory.
It was both sides' first match of the 2025-2027 Test championship cycle and propels Pakistan straight into the number two spot after table-toppers the Australian team.
The win was founded on key performances of 93 by opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq and, crucially, number seven Agha which lifted them to three hundred and seventy-eight.
From there spinners Noman and Sajid Khan utilized helpful home pitches, as they had in their Test series win over England last year, to sustain their lead.
The next and last match begins on 20 October.
