Pakistan have ended world Test cricket champion South Africa's 10-match winning streak with a clinical 93-run victory on a turning wicket in the first Test on Wednesday.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali continued to prosper on turning home wickets with a rich match haul of 10-191 as the Proteas were bowled out for 183 after lunch on Day 4.
Noman has bagged 46 wickets in his last five home tests, including 20 against England and another 16 against the West Indies, after Pakistan chose to counter touring sides by making spinning wickets last year.
Noman followed his 6-112 in the first innings with a haul of 4-79 in a marathon unchanged spell of 28 overs, while Shaheen Shah Afridi mopped up the tail with some impressive reverse swing to finish with 4-33, as South Africa fell way short of its 277-run target.
“It's gone exactly to plan,” said Pakistan captain Shan Masood, who was also in-charge when his team finished bottom of the table in the last World Test Championship cycle.
“We had a lot of challenges in the middle and you have to give credit to South Africa, they kept coming back into the game. They're a great measuring stick for us because they're world champions. I'm glad we finished it off.” Resuming on 51-2, South Africa lacked experience to deal with the spinners on an abrasive wicket that saw it concede a 109-run first-innings lead.
“We have a bit to learn and we need to clean up our game, and come back better in the next match,” said captain Aiden Markram, who is leading the team in the two-test series in the absence of the injured Temba Bavuma.
“We probably could have scored a few more runs in the first innings. A lot of us got in and got out, and we didn't capitalise. If we tidy that up, it'll put us in good stead,” he added.
Also read: West Indies edge past Pakistan in last-over T20 thriller
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