Pakistan Halts South Africa's 10-Test Victory Run.
Shaheen Afridi claimed a quartet of wickets in the final innings following going wicketless in the initial session.
First Test, Lahore (the fourth day)
Pakistan 378 (Imam 93, Salman Agha 93; Senuran Muthusamy 6-117) & 167 (Babar 42; Muthusamy 5-57)
South Africa 269 (Tony de Zorzi 104; Noman 6-112) & 183 (Brevis 54; Shaheen Afridi 4-33, Noman Ali 4-79)
Pakistan won by 93 runs
The national team terminated world champions South Africa's unbeaten run by sealing a 93-run margin win in an entertaining and competitive first Test in Lahore.
South Africa, whose 10-Test unbeaten run in Test cricket culminated in a win against Australia in the World Test Championship final in the month of June, were dismissed for 183 in pursuit of 277.
Having resumed on 51-2, they saw the dismissal of century-maker Tony de Zorzi leg before wicket to pace bowler Afridi to the third delivery of the day to push the tightly balanced run chase in Pakistan's favor.
Slow left-armer Noman Ali, who secured 10-191 in the match, dismissed Tristan Stubbs for two and clean bowled Dewald Brevis, who put up a fight with a rapid 54.
Right-arm spinner Sajid also took advantage of significant spin to terminate opener Rickelton's innings - he faced 145 balls for 45 - and Shaheen came back in the post-lunch session to knock over the lower order with a impressive exhibition of reverse swing.
He trapped Kyle Verreynne lbw for 19 and dismissed Subrayen and Rabada to seal the win.
It was each team's opening game of the 2025-2027 Test championship cycle and propels Pakistan directly into the number two spot behind table-toppers Australia.
The win was built around contributions of ninety-three by opener Imam and, crucially, all-rounder Salman Agha which lifted them to three hundred and seventy-eight.
From there spinners Noman and Sajid Khan took advantage of helpful home pitches, as they had in their series victory over the English team the previous year, to maintain their advantage.
The second and last match begins on October 20.