Pakistan on Top in Lahore Test – South Africa Lose 4 Wickets for Just 55 Runs

Pakistan tightened its hold on the Lahore Test 2025 after dismantling South Africa’s top order on the fourth day at Gaddafi Stadium. The visitors, chasing a competitive target of 277 runs, found themselves reeling at 55 for 4, thanks to superb bowling from Nauman Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

⚡ Pakistan Dominate as South Africa Crumble Early

The day began with South Africa resuming their chase under overcast skies and mounting pressure. Tony de Zorzi, the centurion from the first innings, walked in with hopes of leading a solid reply — but those hopes were shattered almost immediately.

On the third ball of the morning, Pakistan’s spearhead Shaheen Afridi struck with a lethal in-swinger that trapped de Zorzi lbw for just 16 runs. The crowd at Gaddafi Stadium erupted as Pakistan gained the perfect start to the day.

That early wicket set the tone for the session. South Africa never truly recovered as the hosts’ bowling attack kept them on the back foot with sharp pace and accurate spin.

🌀 Nauman Ali Wreaks Havoc with Spin Mastery

Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali was the star of the show. He bowled with tremendous control, exploiting every bit of turn and bounce available on the surface. His variations and patience paid off handsomely as he picked up three key wickets, breaking South Africa’s backbone.

Nauman removed Tristan Stubbs, who tried to counterattack, with a sharp turning delivery that caught the edge and was safely pouched at slip. He then trapped Keegan Petersen in front of the stumps before removing Aiden Markram, who misjudged the flight and ended up giving a simple catch to mid-on.

By the time South Africa reached 55 runs, half their lineup was back in the dressing room. Nauman finished the session with 3 wickets for just 19 runs, while Afridi bowled a fiery spell of 1 for 12.

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📊 South Africa’s Scorecard (Chasing 277)

South Africa trail by 222 runs with six wickets remaining.

🏠 Pakistan’s Balanced Bowling Attack Shines

What stood out in Pakistan’s performance was the team discipline. Every bowler stuck to the plan.

• Shaheen Afridi kept attacking the stumps with pace and swing.
• Nauman Ali used his experience to apply pressure from the other end.
• Agha Salman and Hasan Ali maintained tight lines, making scoring difficult.

Captain Babar Azam was proactive with his field placements, rotating bowlers smartly and keeping close-in catchers to increase pressure. The energy in the field reflected a team fully confident of victory.

Afridi’s new-ball spell was particularly dangerous. He consistently swung the ball both ways, troubling the batters and forcing them into mistakes. His wicket of de Zorzi was a textbook display of left-arm fast bowling — fast, full, and straight.

💪 Pakistan’s Second Innings Effort Set the Tone

Earlier, Pakistan had built their lead through a gritty batting performance in their second innings.
The key contributors were:

• Babar Azam – 62 runs (Captain’s knock under pressure)
• Saud Shakeel – 48 runs
• Mohammad Rizwan – 39 runs (quick runs in lower order)

Though Pakistan lost wickets in clusters, their middle and lower order did just enough to set a target of 277 runs, which looked more than defendable on a deteriorating pitch offering uneven bounce and sharp turn.

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🌥️ Pitch Report – Trouble for Batters Ahead

The Gaddafi Stadium pitch has entered the tricky phase of a Test match. Cracks have widened, and the rough patches outside the off-stump have made batting extremely difficult, especially against left-arm spin.

Experts suggest the surface will continue to favor bowlers on Day 5, making South Africa’s task nearly impossible unless they produce a miraculous partnership.

With Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis at the crease, the Proteas need composure and luck to survive the next few sessions.

🗣️ Experts and Former Players React

Former cricketers and analysts hailed Pakistan’s dominance on home soil.

• Waqar Younis, speaking to a local sports channel, said:
  “Pakistan’s bowling unit has evolved beautifully. Shaheen sets the tone, and Nauman knows exactly when to strike. This is how you win Tests at home.”
• Saeed Ajmal added:
  “Nauman’s control and patience were outstanding. This pitch suits his rhythm perfectly. South Africa looked clueless.”

Fans in the stadium also enjoyed every moment, waving flags and chanting “Pakistan Zindabad” after every wicket.

🧮 Match Situation at the End of Day 4

With six wickets in hand and over 220 runs to get, South Africa will need something extraordinary to change the script. For Pakistan, another couple of wickets in the morning could wrap up the game quickly.

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🏁 Pakistan Eye a Home Series Win

Pakistan’s overall performance in this Test has been a model of discipline and execution. Their bowling unit has complemented the batters perfectly, and their tactical awareness has been on point.

If the bowlers continue this rhythm on the final day, Pakistan could secure a convincing win — one that would boost their standing in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 cycle and reinforce their dominance on home soil.