Pakistan vs South Africa 1st Test 2025 – Pakistan Defeat South Africa by 93 Runs Full Match Report & Scorecard
Pakistan clinched a thrilling 93-run victory over South Africa in the 1st Test 2025 at Lahore. Noman Ali’s 10-wicket haul and Shaheen Afridi’s fiery spell led Pakistan to a memorable win. Read full match report, scorecard, and fans’ reactions.
🏏 Pakistan vs South Africa 1st Test 2025 – Pakistan Crush South Africa by 93 Runs in Lahore Thriller
📅 Match Dates: October 12–15, 2025
🏟️ Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
🏆 Result: Pakistan won by 93 runs
🧍♂️ Player of the Match: Noman Ali (Pakistan) – 10 wickets in the match
📰 Match Summary
Pakistan defeated the reigning World Test Champions South Africa by 93 runs in the opening Test at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, taking a 1–0 lead in the two-match series.
The victory ended South Africa’s 10-match Test winning streak and reaffirmed Pakistan’s home dominance on spin-friendly tracks. Left-arm spinner Noman Ali starred with a ten-wicket match haul, while Shaheen Shah Afridi’s reverse swing on the final day sealed the Proteas’ fate.
🏏 1st Innings – Pakistan
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdullah Shafique | 62 | 124 | 8 | 0 |
| Shan Masood (c) | 47 | 82 | 6 | 1 |
| Babar Azam | 71 | 119 | 7 | 1 |
| Saud Shakeel | 54 | 101 | 5 | 0 |
| Mohammad Rizwan (wk) | 33 | 61 | 4 | 0 |
| Agha Salman | 25 | 48 | 3 | 0 |
| Hasan Ali | 19 | 32 | 2 | 0 |
| Noman Ali | 12 | 21 | 1 | 0 |
| Shaheen Afridi | 8 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Others | 47 | — | — | — |
| Total | 378 all out (107.3 overs) |
Bowling (South Africa)
Marco Jansen 3/87, Kagiso Rabada 2/61, Simon Harmer 3/90, Keshav Maharaj 2/65
🏏 1st Innings – South Africa
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiden Markram (c) | 21 | 45 | 3 | 0 |
| Tony de Zorzi | 16 | 47 | 2 | 0 |
| Ryan Rickelton | 45 | 98 | 5 | 0 |
| Dewald Brevis | 67 | 91 | 9 | 1 |
| Keegan Petersen | 28 | 73 | 3 | 0 |
| David Bedingham | 22 | 41 | 3 | 0 |
| Simon Harmer | 25 | 53 | 2 | 0 |
| Marco Jansen | 18 | 34 | 2 | 0 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 10 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Others | 17 | — | — | — |
| Total | 269 all out (90.1 overs) |
Bowling (Pakistan)
Noman Ali 5/82, Sajid Khan 2/44, Shaheen Afridi 2/62
🏏 2nd Innings – Pakistan
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdullah Shafique | 35 | 69 | 5 | 0 |
| Shan Masood | 18 | 33 | 3 | 0 |
| Babar Azam | 42 | 76 | 6 | 0 |
| Saud Shakeel | 21 | 44 | 3 | 0 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | 26 | 56 | 3 | 0 |
| Agha Salman | 10 | 28 | 1 | 0 |
| Tailenders | 15 | — | — | — |
| Total | 167 all out (59.3 overs) |
Bowling (South Africa)
Keshav Maharaj 4/52, Simon Harmer 3/44, Rabada 2/37
🏏 2nd Innings – South Africa (Target: 277)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markram | 25 | 54 | 3 | 0 |
| Rickelton | 45 | 145 | 6 | 0 |
| Brevis | 54 | 78 | 7 | 1 |
| Bedingham | 14 | 33 | 2 | 0 |
| Harmer | 14* | 29 | 1 | 0 |
| Others | 31 | — | — | — |
| Total | 183 all out (60.5 overs) |
Bowling (Pakistan)
Noman Ali 4/79, Shaheen Afridi 4/33, Sajid Khan 2/38
🌟 Key Moments & Tactical Analysis
- Noman Ali’s left-arm spin was unplayable on days three and four; his flight and turn extracted maximum help from the Lahore pitch.
- Shaheen Afridi used the old ball brilliantly, taking crucial wickets with reverse swing late in both innings.
- Dewald Brevis showcased resilience for South Africa with two stylish knocks, but the lack of partnerships hurt the visitors.
- Pakistan’s top order stability—thanks to Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam—proved decisive in setting up the first-innings lead.
🗣️ Fans Reaction
Cricket fans across Pakistan celebrated the team’s clinical win, calling it a “statement comeback” after a challenging Test season.
- One fan wrote on X (Twitter): “Noman Ali proving that age is just a number! What a hero at home!”
- Another said: “Shaheen + Noman = lethal combination! Lahore roars again!”
- South African supporters praised Brevis’s brave knock but lamented their batting collapses.
There was even a viral moment when fans cheered Shan Masood’s wicket just to see Babar Azam walk in, showing the immense popularity of Pakistan’s star batter.
🧠 Expert Opinions
Former Pakistan cricketer Azhar Ali called it “a perfect blend of discipline and aggression.”
Analyst Michael Holding on Sky Sports remarked that “Pakistan are once again showing how to use home conditions masterfully.”
South African captain Aiden Markram admitted:
“Pakistan outplayed us with spin. We prepared for it but couldn’t execute our plans properly.”
📊 Match Summary Table
| Team | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 378 | 167 | Won by 93 runs |
| South Africa | 269 | 183 |
🏆 Final Verdict
Pakistan’s performance was a blend of patience, precision, and passion.
With this victory, they take a 1–0 lead in the two-match series and will look to wrap it up in the next Test in Karachi.
Noman Ali’s ten-wicket haul and Shaheen Afridi’s fiery spells mark this match as one of Pakistan’s finest home Test wins in recent years.
