Updated WTC Points Table After Pakistan Crush South Africa
Pakistan began their ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 campaign with a dominant 93-run win over defending champions South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday.
Chasing a total of 277 for victory, the visitors were bowled out for 183 in 60.5 overs, as Noman Ali shone with another five-wicket haul in the match.
Sajid Khan and Shaheen Afridi offered vital support, each taking important wickets at crucial moments to seal impressive win for the home side.
The Proteas innings began poorly when captain Aiden Markram fell cheaply to Noman Ali for just 3 runs, setting up a difficult chase.
Noman continued his dominance by dismissing Wiaan Mulder without scoring, before Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi offered brief resistance with a 33-run stand.
On the fourth morning, Shaheen Afridi struck in his first over to remove de Zorzi, and Noman soon dismissed Tristan Stubbs to leave South Africa reeling at 51 for 3.
Dewald Brevis led a short fightback with a brisk 54 off 54 balls, adding 50 runs alongside Rickelton, but Noman broke the stand to restore Pakistan’s control.
Read More: Noman Ali Shines with Stunning 10-Wicket Haul Against South Africa
Sajid Khan joined the attack by removing Rickelton and later Senuran Muthusamy, while Shaheen wrapped up the tail with fiery figures of 4 for 33.
Noman, who took 6 wickets in the first innings, grabbed 4 more in the second to complete a brilliant 10-wicket match haul.
Earlier, Pakistan posted a strong first-innings total of 378, led by fine knocks from Imam-ul-Haq (93), Salman Ali Agha (93), Shan Masood (76), and Mohammad Rizwan (75).
Senuran Muthusamy was the best bowler for the the Aiden Markram-led South Africa in the first innings with figures of 6 for 117.
South Africa replied with 269, anchored the fighting century by Tony de Zorzi and Rickelton 71, before Noman six-wicket burst gave Pakistan a 109-run lead.
Despite being bowled out for 167 in their second innings, Pakistan set South Africa a challenging 277-run target, with Babar Azam (42), Abdullah Shafique (41), and Saud Shakeel (38) adding crucial runs.
Muthusamy once again impressed with 5 for 57, but the national spinners proved decisive as the hosts sealed the opening Test and went 1–0 up in the two-match series.
| Teams | M | W | L | T | D | N/R | PT | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aus | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 100.00 |
| Pak | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 100.00 |
| Sri | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 66.67 |
| Ind | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 61.90 |
| Eng | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 43.33 |
| Ban | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 16.67 |
| WI | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| SA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| NZ | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
