Pakistan Halts the Proteas' 10-match Unbeaten Run.

Cricket match action

The left-arm pacer claimed four wickets in the final innings after failing to take a wicket in the initial session.

First Test, Lahore (the fourth day)

The home side 378 (Imam 93, Agha 93; Senuran Muthusamy 6-117) & 167 (Babar Azam 42; the spinner 5-57)

The visitors 269 (De Zorzi 104; Noman Ali 6-112) & 183 (Brevis 54; Shaheen Afridi 4-33, Noman Ali 4-79)

Pakistan won by 93 runs

The national team brought an end to world champions the Proteas' winning streak by sealing a 93-run win in an exciting and competitive first Test in the city of Lahore.

The Proteas, whose 10-match winning streak in Test cricket ended with victory over 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 Shaheen Afridi to the third ball of the day to shift the finely-poised run chase in the home team's favour.

Slow left-armer Noman Ali, who claimed 10 wickets for 191 runs in the match, dismissed Stubbs for 2 and clean bowled Brevis, who offered some resistance with a rapid 54.

Off-spinner Sajid Khan also took advantage of sharp turn to terminate opener Ryan Rickelton's stay - he lasted 145 balls for 45 runs - and Shaheen came back in the afternoon session to dismiss the tail with a impressive exhibition of reverse-swing bowling.

He had Kyle Verreynne lbw for nineteen and bowled Prenelan Subrayen and Rabada to seal the win.

It was each team's first match of the 2025-2027 Test championship cycle and moves Pakistan straight into the number two spot after leaders the Australian team.

Their victory was founded on key performances of 93 by opening batsman Imam and, crucially, all-rounder Salman Agha which lifted them to three hundred and seventy-eight.

From there spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan utilized favourable home conditions, as they had in their series victory over England the previous year, to maintain their lead.

The next and last match starts on 20 October.

Samantha Taylor
Samantha Taylor

A passionate horticulturist with over a decade of experience in urban farming and sustainable agriculture.

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