Pakistan vs South Africa Live: Score Updates, Key Moments & Result from Today’s World Cup Clash

Pakistan tightened their grip on the opening Test of South Africa’s 2025-26 tour after left-arm spinner Noman Ali shredded the Proteas’ middle order on a wearing third-day pitch in Lahore. Responding to the hosts’ first-innings 378, South Africa faltered from 174-2 to 216-6 as Noman ripped out four wickets for 85 in a marathon 28-over spell, exploiting the uneven bounce and widening footmarks at the Gaddafi Stadium. At stumps the tourists still trailed by 162, leaving Pakistan in pole position to claim early ICC World Test Championship points and a seventh straight home victory. Key moments • 50-over resistance broken: Aiden Markram (71) and debutant Bryce Parsons (58) survived exactly 50 overs before Shaheen Afridi struck with the second new ball, opening the floodgates for Noman’s arm-ball barrage. • Babar’s brisk 90 sets platform: Earlier, Pakistan added 65 runs in the morning as captain Babar Azam’s counter-attacking 90 off 141 lifted the total to 378. His partnership of 104 with Saud Shakeel frustrated South Africa’s quicks. • Rabada milestone: Kagiso Rabada claimed his 300th Test wicket when he trapped Hassan Ali lbw, becoming the fastest South African to the landmark (69 Tests). What’s at stake The two-Test campaign doubles as the sides’ opening assignment in the 2025-27 WTC cycle. Pakistan swept South Africa 2-0 when the Proteas last toured in 2021; victory here would extend that dominance and maintain their unbeaten home run since 2023. For Temba Bavuma’s rebuilding outfit, salvaging a draw keeps alive hopes of a first series win in Asia since 2015. Day 4 forecast With cracks widening, spin is expected to dictate proceedings. Pakistan will hunt the final four wickets quickly, eyeing an innings win or a sub-150 chase. South Africa need their lower order—Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Rabada—to drag them close to parity before Maharaj and part-time spinner Dean Elgar try to mirror Noman’s success on a surface offering turn and variable bounce. Series schedule 1st Test: Lahore, 12-16 Oct 2nd Test: Rawalpindi, 20-24 Oct Three T20Is and three ODIs follow, completing the month-long tour. Quote of the day “The pitch is deteriorating faster than we thought. One good session tomorrow and we can force the game,” Noman told host broadcaster PTV after collecting the new ball as a souvenir. Fans can follow live scores, ball-by-ball commentary and video highlights on the PCB and ICC digital platforms as the Pakistan-South Africa rivalry enters a decisive fourth day.