Against South Africa in Lahore, Pakistan spinner Noman Ali picked up his fifth sixth-wicket haul at home to put his team in a position of strength in the first Test of the series.
Batting first, Pakistan made 378 with Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha contributing 93 each, while captain Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan made 76 and 75 respectively. For South Africa, spinner Senuran Muthusamy took 6-117.
Noman then starred with the ball to secure a sizeable first-innings lead for Pakistan. He picked up his ninth five-wicket haul, which included the key wicket of Tony de Zorzi, who had top-scored for South Africa with 104 off 171. South Africa were eventually bowled out for 269, conceding a 109-run lead, with Noman finishing with 6-112.
1st Test, Pakistan vs South Africa
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Noman Ali breaks Abdul Qadir's record
Noman now holds the record for the most six-wicket hauls (5) by a Pakistan spinner in home Tests. He broke the previous record of four, held by the legendary Abdul Qadir (set between 1978-1987). Remarkably, Noman has picked up five-wicket hauls in each of his last five Tests since returning to the team in October last year.
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A total of 11 Pakistan spinners have taken at least one six-wicket haul in a home Test match, two of whom are also playing the ongoing Test alongside Noman: Sajid Khan (2) and Abrar Ahmed (1).
Among Pakistan spinners with a minimum of 50 wickets in home Tests, Noman possesses the best average; his 66 wickets so far have come at 22.60. The next best is Iqbal Qasim’s 111 wickets at 25.15 between 1977 and 1988.
Since his comeback in the second Test against England last year, Noman has picked up 42 wickets in just nine innings at a scarcely believable average of 14.07, which includes one five-wicket haul, three six-wicket hauls, and one eight-wicket haul. His lowest aggregate of wickets in these five games has been six, which he took in the first Test against West Indies in Multan.
No other spinner has taken more wickets than him in this period, while only Jasprit Bumrah (56), Mohammed Sirjaj (55), and Mitchell Starc (44) have taken more among fast bowlers.
Most six-wicket hauls by Pakistan spinners in home Tests
Noman Ali's five-plus wicket hauls in Tests
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