LAHORE (Abdul Basit): Pakistan launched their ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating defending champions South Africa by 93 runs in the opening Test at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Wednesday. The hosts ended a 19-year drought for a Test win at the venue, last triumphing here in 2006 against the West Indies, thanks to superb bowling from Noman Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Chasing 277 for victory, South Africa were dismissed for 183 shortly after lunch on day four, undone by the spin of Noman and the pace of Shaheen, who claimed four wickets apiece. The victory also snapped South Africa’s 10-match unbeaten streak in World Test Championship fixtures and lifted Pakistan to fifth place on the WTC points table.
The final day began with the Proteas on 51-2, but their resistance crumbled quickly. Shaheen struck with the third delivery of the morning to remove Tony de Zorzi for 16, and Noman followed up by dismissing Tristan Stubbs (2) and Dewald Brevis (54) to stifle any hopes of a South African fightback. Brevis’ entertaining counterattack briefly threatened Pakistan’s grip, but once he fell at 128-5, the collapse resumed.
Ryan Rickelton’s patient 45 off 145 balls was the only other notable contribution, as Sajid Khan chipped in with two crucial wickets to ensure the visitors never recovered. Shaheen’s lethal post-lunch spell saw him clean up Kyle Verreynne (19), Prenelan Subrayen (8), and Kagiso Rabada (0), sealing the victory in spectacular fashion.
Earlier in the match, Pakistan’s first-innings total of 378 laid the foundation for the win. Imam-ul-Haq (93), Salman Ali Agha (93), Shan Masood (76), and Mohammad Rizwan (75) anchored the innings, while South Africa’s left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy stood out with six wickets for 117 runs.
South Africa responded with 269 in their first innings, powered by Tony de Zorzi’s brilliant 104 and Ryan Rickelton’s 71, but they conceded a 109-run deficit. Noman Ali’s left-arm spin wreaked havoc as he captured 6 for 107, supported by Sajid Khan’s 3 for 98.
Pakistan’s second innings saw a mini-collapse as Muthusamy (5 for 57) and Harmer (4 for 51) reduced them to 167 all out. Babar Azam (42), Abdullah Shafique (41), and Saud Shakeel (38) added crucial runs to set South Africa a tricky 277-run target on a deteriorating pitch. In the end, Pakistan’s bowlers rose to the challenge, combining guile and aggression to clinch a famous Test victory at home.
SCORES IN BRIEF: PAKISTAN 378 (Imam-ul-Haq 93, Salman Agha 93, Rizwan 75, Shan Masood 76; Muthusamy 6-117) AND 167 (Babar 42; Muthusamy 5-57, Harmer 4-51) beat SOUTH AFRICA 269 (de Zorzi 104, Rickelton 71; Noman 6-107, Sajid 3-98) AND 183 (Brevis 54, Rickelton 45; Shaheen 4-33, Noman 4-79) by 93 runs.
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