Noman’s Guile, Shaheen’s Fury Halt South Africa

Naeem Khan Niazi

Lahore: Pakistan produced a commanding performance on the fourth afternoon of the first ICC World Test Championship (WTC) match against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium, claiming a resounding victory by 93 runs.

With this triumph, Pakistan now leads the two-match series 1-0 and halts South Africa’s impressive 10-match winning streak in WTC encounters.

The match was defined by the contrasting brilliance of two Pakistani bowlers: Noman Ali’s cunning left-arm spin and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s fiery pace. Together, they dismantled the South African batting lineup for 183, leaving the visitors well short of the 277-run target.

From the outset of the fourth day, South Africa struggled to gain momentum. Overnight centurion Tony de Zorzi fell early to Shaheen Shah Afridi, trapped lbw by a perfectly angled reverse swing that left him bewildered despite a review. Tristan Stubbs, too, fell to Noman Ali while attempting an ambitious reverse sweep, leaving South Africa reeling at 55-4.

A brief period of resistance followed, led by Ryan Rickelton and the explosive Dewald Bervis, who stitched a partnership of 73 runs off 97 balls, offering some hope of a historic chase.

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Bervis looked particularly threatening, dispatching multiple boundaries off Noman Ali, but was eventually bowled by the spinner in a beautifully disguised delivery that turned sharply to hit the off-stump. Rickelton continued to fight but lost composure after Bervis’ departure, succumbing to a sharp edge off Sajid Khan.

Shaheen Shah Afridi then returned to deliver a fiery spell reminiscent of Wasim Akram, claiming the last three wickets with unplayable Yorkers and precise pace, leaving the Proteas’ batting corps in tatters.

Afridi ended the innings with figures of 4-33 in 8.5 overs, while Noman Ali’s masterful spin earned him a 10-wicket haul in the match, finishing with 10-192. Sajid Khan chipped in with two crucial wickets.

Pakistan’s victory also had statistical significance: it marked their seventh Test win against South Africa in 30 head-to-head encounters, with 16 defeats and seven draws. The win propels Pakistan to the second spot in the WTC standings with 12 points, trailing Australia, who top the table with 36 points from three wins.

In the post-match press conference, Pakistan captain Shan Masood praised his bowlers’ self-motivation and tactical acumen. “Shaheen came to me himself and asked to bowl when the spinners went wicketless for almost eight overs,” Masood revealed, underscoring the bowler’s leadership and confidence.

Noman Ali, adjudged player of the match for his match-defining bowling performance, and Shaheen Shah Afridi demonstrated why Pakistan’s bowling attack remains a formidable force in world cricket. Their combined brilliance not only secured victory but also sent a clear message to the rest of the WTC contenders: Pakistan are a team capable of stunning performances under pressure.