Lahore, October 15, 2025 – Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Noman Ali produced a magical performance to lead his side to a historic 93-run victory over reigning World Test Champions South Africa in the Lahore Test on Wednesday.
Noman completely dismantled the South African batting line-up, restricting them to just 183 runs in their second innings and securing Pakistan’s 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.
Across the match, Noman Ali took a total of 10 wickets, including four in the second innings, which proved decisive in sealing Pakistan’s win. His relentless accuracy and variations on a spin-friendly track left the visitors struggling for answers. Alongside Noman, fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was also instrumental, grabbing four wickets, while Sajid Khan contributed with two crucial breakthroughs.
The South Africans, who began their new World Test Championship cycle with high hopes, were outclassed by Pakistan’s disciplined bowling and tactical brilliance. Skipper Shan Masood’s decision to open the attack with Shaheen Afridi paid off immediately, as the pacer’s fiery spell rattled the top order and set the tone for Pakistan’s dominance.
Earlier, Pakistan had posted a solid first-innings total of 378 runs, thanks to strong contributions from Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Agha, who both fell short of centuries. South Africa’s Senuran Muthusamy was the standout bowler in that innings, claiming six wickets and temporarily swinging the momentum back for his team.
However, the brilliance of Noman Ali in both innings ensured that Pakistan stayed in control. His six-wicket haul in the first innings broke South Africa’s backbone, despite a fighting century from Tony de Zorzi. Noman’s match-winning performance not only earned him the Player of the Match award but also reaffirmed Pakistan’s growing strength in spin-friendly home conditions.