PAK vs SA (1st Test) – Highlights
Pakistan began their home Test season in style, defeating South Africa by 93 runs in the first Test at Lahore. It was a contest rich in turn, tension, and tactical intrigue, a reminder that Test cricket in the subcontinent remains a battle of patience and precision. Noman Ali was the undisputed hero, taking 10 wickets in the match and walking away with a deserved Player of the Match award. His left-arm spin, paired with Sajid Khan’s off-breaks and Shaheen Afridi’s bursts of pace, carved through South Africa’s batting order twice, sealing a crucial win in a gripping fourth-day finish.
Batting first, PAK posted a solid 378 after an early wobble. Imam-ul-Haq anchored the innings with a well-crafted 93, combining composure and judgment against spin. Captain Shan Masood added 76, steering Pakistan through the middle overs before Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel fell in quick succession. The lower middle order, often Pakistan’s weak link in Tests, rose to the challenge. Mohammad Rizwan’s 75 and Agha Salman’s aggressive 93 provided the late flourish that lifted Pakistan to a commanding total. For South Africa, Senuran Muthusamy was the pick of the bowlers, claiming six wickets for 117, a reward for his relentless accuracy.
SA’s reply was spirited but inconsistent. Tony de Zorzi stood tall with a fluent 104, marking his maiden Test hundred, while Ryan Rickelton’s 71 added substance. Yet Pakistan’s spinners proved relentless. Noman Ali extracted a sharp turn and bounce, finishing with figures of 6 for 112, while Sajid Khan chipped in with three wickets. South Africa was bowled out for 269, conceding a handy 109-run lead, a crucial advantage on a wearing pitch.
PAK’s second innings, however, faltered dramatically. Muthusamy and Harmer combined again to expose their middle order. Babar Azam’s elegant 42 and Saud Shakeel’s counter-attacking 38 provided temporary resistance, but no one could convert a start into a defining score. From 150 for 5, Pakistan collapsed to 167 all out, setting South Africa a target of 277 tricky, but not impossible. Harmer and Muthusamy shared nine wickets between them, ensuring Pakistan couldn’t run away with the game.
The final innings was a test of nerve, and Pakistan’s bowlers held theirs better. Shaheen Shah Afridi struck early to remove Captain Aiden Markram, while Noman Ali continued his dream match by spinning out the middle order. Dewald Brevis briefly threatened with a dazzling 54 off 54 balls, a reminder of his audacious talent, but the pressure of chasing on a crumbling surface proved too much. SA were bowled out for 183, falling 93 runs short of the target. Shaheen’s fiery spell of 4 for 33 and Noman’s 4 for 79 sealed the deal.
Pakistan’s victory reflected a return to their classic home formula: disciplined batting, patient spin, and incisive fast bowling when it mattered. For South Africa, de Zorzi’s century and Muthusamy’s all-round fight were bright spots, but they will rue their middle-order fragility and inability to convert partnerships into match-winning ones. As the teams head to Karachi for the second Test, Pakistan leads the series 1-0 and looks firmly in control of momentum.
Pakistan vs South Africa Scoreboard
Pakistan – 378 & 167
South Africa – 269 & 183
Result – Pakistan won by 93 runs
Player of the Match – Noman Ali
Noman Ali
PAK vs SA Playing XI
Pakistan | Shan Masood (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali. |
South Africa | Aiden Markram (c), Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada. |
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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