Pakistan Halts South Africa's 10-match Unbeaten Run.
The left-arm pacer secured a quartet of wickets in the final innings following going wicketless in the initial innings.
First Test, the Gaddafi Stadium (day four)
Pakistan 378 (Imam-ul-Haq 93, Agha 93; Muthusamy 6-117) & 167 (Babar Azam 42; the spinner 5-57)
The visitors 269 (Tony de Zorzi 104; Noman 6-112) & 183 (Brevis 54; Shaheen Afridi 4-33, Noman 4-79)
The hosts secured a 93-run victory
Pakistan terminated world champions South Africa's winning streak by completing a 93-run triumph in an entertaining and hard-fought opening Test in Lahore.
South Africa, whose 10-Test unbeaten run in Test cricket culminated in a win against the Aussies in the WTC final in the month of June, were bowled out for 183 chasing 277.
Having resumed on 51-2, they saw the dismissal of first-innings centurion De Zorzi leg before wicket to left-arm quick Afridi to the third ball of the day to push the tightly balanced run chase in the home team's favour.
Slow left-armer Noman, who took 10 wickets for 191 runs in the game, dismissed Stubbs for two and clean bowled Dewald Brevis, who offered some resistance with a run-a-ball 54.
Off-spinner Sajid also capitalized on significant spin to end opener Rickelton's innings - he lasted 145 deliveries for 45 runs - and Shaheen returned in the afternoon session to dismiss the tail with a impressive exhibition of reverse swing.
He trapped Verreynne leg before for 19 and bowled Prenelan Subrayen and Rabada to seal the victory.
It was both sides' first match of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle and moves the hosts directly into the number two spot behind leaders Australia.
The win was built around contributions of 93 by opening batsman Imam and, crucially, number seven Agha which boosted them to three hundred and seventy-eight.
After that slow bowlers Noman and Sajid Khan utilized helpful home pitches, as they had in their series victory over the English team last year, to maintain their lead.
The second and last match starts on 20 October.
