Pakistan Stops the Proteas' 10-match Winning Streak.
Shaheen Afridi took a quartet of wickets in the final innings after going wicketless in the first innings.
Opening Test, Lahore (the fourth day)
The home side 378 (Imam 93, Agha 93; Muthusamy 6-117) & 167 (Babar 42; Muthusamy 5-57)
The visitors 269 (De Zorzi 104; Noman Ali 6-112) & 183 (Brevis 54; Shaheen 4-33, Noman 4-79)
Pakistan won by 93 runs
The national team terminated the reigning champions the Proteas' winning streak by completing a 93-run margin victory in an thrilling and competitive opening Test in Lahore.
The Proteas, whose 10-match unbeaten run in the longest format ended with victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final in June, were bowled out for 183 in pursuit of 277.
Having resumed on 51-2, they saw the dismissal of first-innings centurion De Zorzi lbw to pace bowler Shaheen Afridi to the third delivery of the day to shift the finely-poised run chase in Pakistan's favor.
Left-arm spinner Noman, who secured 10 wickets for 191 runs in the match, dismissed Stubbs for two and bowled Dewald Brevis, who offered some resistance with a rapid 54.
Off-spinner Sajid also took advantage of significant spin to terminate opening batsman Ryan Rickelton's innings - he lasted 145 balls 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 leg before for 19 and bowled Prenelan Subrayen and Kagiso Rabada to secure the victory.
It was both sides' opening game of the 2025-27 Test championship cycle and moves Pakistan directly into second place after table-toppers Australia.
Their victory was built around contributions of ninety-three by opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq and, importantly, all-rounder Salman Agha which lifted them to 378.
After that slow bowlers Noman and Sajid utilized favourable home conditions, as they did in their Test series win over England last year, to maintain their advantage.
The second and final Test begins on 20 October.
