LAHORE: Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood said his team’s biggest challenge was maintaining consistency after defeating South Africa by 93 runs in the first Test at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali starred with a ten-wicket match haul as Pakistan bowled out the visitors for 183 on day four, defending a target of 277. The win gave Pakistan an ideal start to the World Test Championship (WTC) campaign, after finishing last in the previous edition.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Shan Masood said, “The message is this — we are playing good cricket against quality oppositions. But at the same time, the challenge is that we need to consistently perform and win matches against top teams.”
He added that the debate over “first and second divisions” in Test cricket would become irrelevant if teams like Pakistan continued to play competitive cricket against top-ranked sides.
‘We still have areas to improve,’ says Shan Masood
The Pakistan skipper admitted that while his team showed strong discipline in both batting and bowling, there were still key areas that needed improvement — particularly in the middle order.
“We lost 11-37 over the course of two innings, which is not good. We must overcome that,” Shan Masood said.
He praised his bowlers, especially Shaheen Shah Afridi, who claimed four wickets for 33 runs on the final day to destroy South Africa’s tail. “He showed why he is counted among the top bowlers in the world today with his performance,” he said.
The captain also credited his team’s spin attack. “The spinners came into play, reverse swing helped the bowlers do their job, and the batters did well enough,” he said. “But we still have challenges in the middle order that we need to fix before the next Test.”
Noman Ali leads Pakistan to victory
Noman Ali, who was named Player of the Match, finished with figures of 10-191 in the match — his third ten-wicket haul in Tests. His sharp turn and control troubled the South African batters throughout the contest, particularly on a deteriorating fourth-day pitch.
“Credit goes to Noman for his consistency and control,” Shan Masood said. “He has been one of our match-winners in home conditions.”
In Pakistan’s first innings, the hosts posted 378, with Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha stitching a crucial 163-run partnership for the sixth wicket. South Africa managed 269 in reply before Pakistan were bundled out for 167 in their second innings.
Despite the collapse, Pakistan’s bowlers ensured that the total was enough. Noman’s left-arm spin and Shaheen’s pace combination proved decisive as South Africa folded for 183.
Markram: ‘First-innings deficit was crucial’
South Africa captain Aiden Markram admitted that his team’s first-innings performance cost them the match.
“They (Pakistan) had a really good partnership in the first innings when we had them five wickets down,” said Markram, referring to the Rizwan-Salman stand. “That 100-plus run deficit made a big difference.”
Markram praised his team’s effort but said they must learn quickly before the second Test in Rawalpindi, which starts Monday. “We probably could have scored a few more runs in the first innings, but I am proud of the way we fought. We need to clean up our game and come back better.”
He dismissed the idea that the toss had a major impact. “The pitch was fair, and both sides had chances. The key difference was how Pakistan handled the pressure in the second innings.”
Shaheen, Noman shine in key moments
The final day saw Pakistan’s bowlers dominate from the start. Shaheen Afridi struck in the first over, trapping Tony de Zorzi lbw for 16 with a delivery that seamed back sharply.
Tristan Stubbs soon fell to a premeditated reverse sweep that landed safely in Salman Agha’s hands, while Dewald Brevis, who showed aggression with a 54 featuring six fours and two sixes, was bowled by Noman with a sharply turning ball.
Opener Ryan Rickelton offered resistance with 45 but was dismissed by Sajid Khan just before lunch, ending South Africa’s hopes of a comeback.
Looking Ahead
With the 1-0 lead, Pakistan will enter the second and final Test in Rawalpindi full of confidence. Shan Masood emphasized that sustaining this momentum will be the real challenge for the squad.
“We’ve shown we can beat the best, but doing it again and again is what defines a top team,” he said.
The second Test of the Pakistan vs South Africa series begins on Monday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where both sides will look to make key adjustments for a decisive finish.
