Pakistan Stops South Africa's 10-Test Winning Streak.
Shaheen Afridi secured a quartet of wickets in the final innings after going wicketless in the initial session.
First Test, Lahore (day four)
Pakistan 378 (Imam 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 4-79)
Pakistan won by 93 runs
The national team halted world champions South Africa's unbeaten run by achieving a 93-run margin win in an entertaining and hard-fought first 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 dismissed for 183 chasing 277.
Having resumed on 51-2, they saw the dismissal of century-maker De Zorzi leg before wicket to left-arm quick Shaheen Afridi to the third ball of the day to shift the finely-poised chase in Pakistan's favour.
Left-arm spinner Noman, who claimed 10 wickets for 191 runs in the match, removed Stubbs for two and bowled Dewald Brevis, who put up a fight with a rapid 54.
Right-arm spinner Sajid Khan also capitalized on sharp turn to terminate opening batsman Ryan Rickelton's innings - he lasted 145 balls for 45 - and Afridi came back in the afternoon session to knock over the lower order with a impressive exhibition of reverse-swing bowling.
He trapped Verreynne lbw for nineteen and bowled Subrayen and Rabada to secure the win.
It was both sides' first match of the 2025-2027 Test championship cycle and moves the hosts straight into the number two spot after table-toppers Australia.
Their victory was built around contributions of ninety-three by opener Imam-ul-Haq and, importantly, all-rounder Agha which lifted them to 378.
After that slow bowlers Noman Ali and Sajid Khan took advantage of favourable home conditions, as they did in their series victory over England the previous year, to maintain their lead.
The next and final Test begins on October 20.
