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Pakistan terminated world champions the Proteas' unbeaten run by sealing a 93-run margin triumph in an entertaining and hard-fought opening Test in the city of Lahore.

The Proteas, whose 10-match unbeaten run in Test cricket ended with a win against Australia in the WTC final in June, were bowled out for 183 chasing 277.

Starting the day on 51 for two, they saw the dismissal of first-innings centurion Tony de Zorzi leg before wicket to left-arm quick Shaheen Afridi to the third delivery of the day to shift the tightly balanced chase in the home team's favor.

Slow left-armer Noman Ali, who secured 10-191 in the game, dismissed Stubbs for 2 and clean bowled Brevis, who offered some resistance with a rapid 54.

Right-arm spinner Sajid also capitalized on significant spin to end opening batsman Ryan Rickelton's stay - he lasted 145 deliveries for 45 runs - and Afridi returned in the afternoon session to knock over the lower order with a fine display of reverse swing.

He had Verreynne leg before for nineteen and bowled Subrayen and Rabada to seal the victory.

It was each team's first match of the 2025-2027 Test championship cycle and propels the hosts straight into the number two spot behind table-toppers Australia.

The win was built around contributions of ninety-three by opener Imam and, importantly, number seven Salman Agha which lifted them to three hundred and seventy-eight.

After that spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan took advantage of favourable home conditions, as they did in their series victory over England last year, to sustain their lead.

The second and last match begins on 20 October.