🔗 Share this article

Pakistan terminated the reigning champions the Proteas' unbeaten run by achieving a 93-run victory in an thrilling and hard-fought first Test in Lahore.

The Proteas, whose 10-match winning streak in the longest format ended with a win against 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 De Zorzi lbw to pace bowler Shaheen Afridi to the third delivery of the day to shift the tightly balanced run chase in the home team's favor.

Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who claimed 10 wickets for 191 runs in the game, removed Stubbs for 2 and bowled Dewald Brevis, who put up a fight with a run-a-ball 54.

Off-spinner Sajid Khan also took advantage of sharp turn to terminate opening batsman Ryan Rickelton's innings - he lasted 145 balls for 45 runs - and Shaheen returned in the afternoon session to knock over the lower order with a impressive exhibition of reverse swing.

He had Verreynne lbw for nineteen and dismissed Prenelan Subrayen and Rabada to seal the win.

It was each team's opening game of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle and moves Pakistan directly into the number two spot behind table-toppers the Australian team.

The win was built around key performances of ninety-three by opener Imam and, crucially, number seven Salman Agha which lifted them to three hundred and seventy-eight.

After that spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan utilized favourable home conditions, as they did in their Test series win over the English team the previous year, to maintain their advantage.

The next and last match starts on 20 October.