🔗 Share this article Pakistan Halts South Africa's 10-match Victory Run. Shaheen Afridi took a quartet of wickets in the second innings after going wicketless in the first session. Opening Test, Lahore (day four) The home side 378 (Imam-ul-Haq 93, Salman Agha 93; Muthusamy 6-117) & 167 (Babar 42; Muthusamy 5-57) The visitors 269 (De Zorzi 104; Noman 6-112) & 183 (Brevis 54; Shaheen 4-33, Noman Ali 4-79) The hosts secured a 93-run victory Pakistan brought an end to world champions the Proteas' unbeaten run by completing a 93-run margin win in an exciting and competitive opening Test in the city of Lahore. South Africa, who had a 10-match winning streak in the longest format ended with a win against the Aussies in the World Test Championship final in the month of June, were bowled out for 183 in pursuit of 277. Having resumed on 51-2, they lost first-innings centurion De Zorzi lbw to left-arm quick Afridi to the third ball of the day to shift the finely-poised chase in Pakistan's favour. Left-arm spinner Noman, who took 10-191 in the match, dismissed Stubbs for 2 and bowled Dewald Brevis, who put up a fight with a rapid 54. Off-spinner Sajid Khan also took advantage of sharp turn to end opener Rickelton's innings - he lasted 145 balls for 45 runs - and Shaheen came back in the post-lunch session to knock over the tail with a impressive exhibition of reverse swing. He had Verreynne lbw for nineteen and bowled Subrayen and Kagiso Rabada to seal the win. It was each team's opening game of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle and propels the hosts directly into the number two spot behind leaders the Australian team. Their victory was founded on key performances of 93 by opener Imam and, importantly, all-rounder Agha which lifted them to three hundred and seventy-eight. After that slow bowlers Noman Ali and Sajid utilized helpful home pitches, as they had in their Test series win over the English team the previous year, to sustain their lead. The next and final Test begins on 20 October.