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Pakistan halted the reigning champions South Africa's unbeaten run by completing a 93-run triumph in an entertaining and hard-fought opening Test in the city of Lahore.

South Africa, whose 10-Test winning streak in Test cricket culminated in a win against Australia in the World Test Championship final in the month of June, were bowled out for 183 chasing 277.

Starting the day on 51 for two, they saw the dismissal of century-maker De Zorzi lbw to pace bowler Afridi to the third delivery of the day to shift the finely-poised run chase in the home team's favor.

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

Right-arm spinner Sajid also took advantage of sharp turn to end opening batsman Ryan Rickelton's stay - he faced 145 deliveries for 45 runs - and Afridi 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 Kagiso Rabada to seal the win.

It was both sides' opening game of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle and propels the hosts straight into second place behind table-toppers the Australian team.

Their victory was built around key performances of ninety-three by opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq and, crucially, all-rounder Agha which lifted them to three hundred and seventy-eight.

After that slow bowlers Noman and Sajid took advantage of favourable home conditions, as they did in their series victory over the English team last year, to maintain their advantage.

The next and final Test begins on 20 October.