Pakistan beat SA by 93 runs in Lahore Test as Noman Ali shines

Pakistan beat world champions South Africa by 93 runs in the first Test at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, with left arm spinner Noman Ali taking 10 wickets across both innings to finish as player of the match and hand the hosts a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The result also gave Pakistan an ideal start to the new World Test Championship cycle.

Batting first, Pakistan posted 378, led by strong contributions from Imam ul-Haq (93), Salman Ali Agha (93) and Shan Masood (76), with Mohammad Rizwan adding 75. South Africa replied with 269, Tony de Zorzi’s second Test century of the match the standout knock as he made 104. Noman’s first-innings haul of six for 112 helped restrict the tourists and build a 109-run first-innings deficit.

Pakistan were then bowled out for 167 in their second innings, a collapse triggered by South Africa’s spin duo Senuran Muthusamy and Simon Harmer. Muthusamy produced a career-best match haul of 11 wickets, finishing with figures of 6 for 117 and 5 for 57, which left South Africa needing 277 to win.

On the fourth day Pakistan’s spinners again prospered on a wearing, turning surface. Noman returned with four wickets in the second innings, while...