Noman Ali and Shaheen Afridi Shine on Day 4 as Pakistan Secures Victory Over South Africa in WTC Showdown

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Noman Ali and Shaheen Afridi Shine on Day 4 as Pakistan Secures Victory Over South Africa in WTC Showdown

In a thrilling display of skill, Pakistan emerged victorious over South Africa by 93 runs in the first Test held in Lahore. The match concluded on Wednesday, with South Africa chasing a target of 277 runs. They were bowled out for 183, marking a significant achievement for the hosts.

Noman Ali’s Exceptional Performance

Noman Ali was pivotal for Pakistan, earning the title of Man of the Match. The left-arm spinner delivered an outstanding performance, taking 4 wickets for 79 runs, and finishing the match with a total of 10 wickets for 191 runs. This marks his third occasion of claiming ten or more wickets in a Test match.

Match Summary

Pakistan’s First Innings: 378 runs
South Africa’s First Innings: 269 runs
Pakistan’s Second Innings: 167 runs
South Africa’s Second Innings: 183 runs

The pitch at Gaddafi Stadium proved challenging, presenting low bounce and sharp turn, which Noman exploited brilliantly. Notably, spin bowlers dominated the match, taking 34 wickets collectively, while fast bowlers claimed only six. South Africa’s Senuran Muthusamy also had a noteworthy performance, taking 11 wickets for 174 runs.

Key Players’ Contributions

Despite losing wickets regularly, South Africa had a determined partnership between Dewald Brevis and Ryan Rickelton, who added 73 runs for the fifth wicket. Brevis scored a brisk 54, marking his career-best performance, while Rickelton contributed a resilient 45 runs before falling to Sajid Khan.

In the second innings, Pakistan’s seam attack, spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi, proved crucial. Afridi took 4 wickets for 33 runs, dismissing key batsmen Kyle Verreynne, Prenelan Subrayen, and Kagiso Rabada.

Next Steps

This victory marks a strong start for Pakistan in the World Test Championship, especially after finishing last in the previous edition. The second and final Test of the series is set to take place in Rawalpindi starting Monday, promising more action for cricket enthusiasts.