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Kyle Verreynne stumps Sajid Khan of Pakistan during day four of the Second Test in the series between Pakistan and South Africa at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 23, 2025 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. (Photo by Sameer Ali/Getty Images) South Africa secured an emphatic eight-wicket victory against Pakistan on Thursday in Rawalpindi, leveling the two-test cricket series. Off-spinner Simon Harmer’s exceptional performance, claiming 6-50, dismantled Pakistan’s second innings for 138 on Day 4, setting up an easy chase of 68 runs for South Africa.With the loss Pakistan has slipped behind India in the latest World Test Championship (WTC) pointes table. India moved to third place, while Pakistan is at fifth.The reigning WTC champion South Africa has moved to fourth position after this convincing win in Rawalpindi. The victory marked a complete turnaround from the first test in Lahore, where Pakistan had won by 93 runs. South Africa, the World Test Championship winners, reached their target of 73-2 in just 12.3 overs.

WTC Points table

RankTeamMatchesWinsLossesDrawsPointsPCT1Australia330036100.002Sri Lanka21011666.673India74215261.904South Africa21101250.005Pakistan21101250.006England52212643.337Bangladesh2011416.678West Indies505000.009New Zealand000000.00The spin duo of Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, who returned from injury after missing the first test, dominated the match with a combined 17 wickets in the second test.South African captain Aiden Markram led the chase with an aggressive 42 off 45 balls, including eight boundaries, before falling lbw to Noman Ali with just four runs needed for victory.Tristan Stubbs, who had impressed with a half-century in South Africa’s first innings total of 404, departed for a duck, edging Noman to slip. Ryan Rickelton sealed the win with a six off Sajid Khan, remaining unbeaten on 25.Harmer achieved a significant milestone by becoming only the third South African bowler to reach 1,000 wickets in first-class cricket when he dismissed Noman.Pakistan’s overnight batters, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, failed to extend their team’s lead significantly. Both fell to Harmer early on Day 4, triggering a quick collapse.Babar managed to reach his first half-century of the series but was trapped lbw by Harmer shortly after. His dismissal came through a delivery that spun back, hitting him low on the pads, with the DRS review confirming the on-field decision.The Pakistan captain’s century drought in test cricket continued, with his last hundred dating back to December 2022.Rizwan’s dismissal followed quickly as he edged the ball to Tony de Zorzi off Harmer’s bowling, leaving Pakistan in trouble with a lead of just 34 runs.

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Who was the standout player in South Africa’s victory against Pakistan?

Salman Ali Agha showed some resistance with 28 runs off 42 balls but was eventually bowled by Maharaj. The left-arm spinner then removed Khan with a stumping to end Pakistan’s innings and set up South Africa’s series-leveling victory.The balanced performance from South Africa’s bowling attack, particularly the spinners, proved decisive in achieving their first test victory of the series.

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Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi, left, and teammates congratulate each others after winning the first test cricket match against South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary) Pakistan secured a decisive 93-run victory against world test cricket champion South Africa in the first Test on Wednesday, ending South Africa’s impressive 10-match winning streak.With the win Pakistan also overtook India in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table and jumped to number two in the standings behind Australia. “I think you always have to start well. It’s a great opportunity playing the team that won the previous Test Championship,” said Pakistan captain Shan Masood. “We are very excited to be back home, to be playing Test cricket, and to start off with a win. I think that’s a great start. We’ve closed it off here today, and we’re onto the next one.”

WTC Points Table

TeamMatchesWonLostTiedDrawnDeductionPTPCTAustralia33000036100.00Pakistan11000012100.00Sri Lanka2100101666.67India7420105261.90England5220122643.33Bangladesh201010416.67West Indies50500000.00New Zealand00000000.00South Africa10100000.00Earlier, left-arm spinner Noman Ali’s outstanding performance with match figures of 10-191, combined with Shaheen Shah Afridi’s crucial 4-33, proved instrumental in dismantling South Africa’s batting lineup for 183 on Day 4.Noman Ali’s remarkable form on home wickets continued, having claimed 46 wickets in his last five home tests, including 20 against England and 16 against the West Indies. His latest performance included figures of 6-112 in the first innings and 4-79 in a continuous 28-over spell.South Africa began the day at 51-2, facing a challenging target of 277 runs on a difficult spinning wicket. The team had already conceded a 109-run first-innings lead.The morning session saw early setbacks for South Africa when Tony de Zorzi, who had scored a century in the first innings, was dismissed for 16 by Afridi. Tristan Stubbs soon followed, managing only 2 runs before being caught by Salman Ali Agha.Dewald Brevis and Ryan Rickelton provided some resistance with a 73-run partnership. Brevis, playing in his third test, showed aggressive intent by hitting Noman for a six and two boundaries in a single over, reaching his half-century off 51 balls.However, Brevis’s promising innings ended when he was bowled after scoring his fifty. Rickelton’s patient knock of 45 runs from 145 deliveries was terminated by off-spinner Sajid Khan, with Agha taking another catch in the slips.

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What was the key factor in Pakistan’s victory over South Africa in the first Test?

South Africa’s struggles continued after lunch as Senuran Muthusamy fell to Khan’s full-pitched delivery while attempting a sweep shot. Afridi then cleaned up the remaining batsmen to secure Pakistan’s victory.The second and final test of the series is scheduled to begin on Monday in Rawalpindi. South Africa’s bowling options will be strengthened with the return of experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj, who missed the first test due to injury.The match highlighted Pakistan’s dominance in home conditions, particularly their spinners’ effectiveness on turning wickets. South Africa’s inability to handle the spin and reverse swing ultimately led to their first defeat in 11 matches.

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Arsenal are in talks over a move that will smash records currently held at the club.

The Gunners have had a steady start to the season, having picked up three wins and a draw from a difficult opening five fixtures after an unprecedented spending spree that saw eight new first-teamers join the club.

But after a change behind the scenes on the board, Arsenal are refusing to rest on their laurels – and owners Kroenke Sports Entertainment (KSE) appear more focused than ever to deliver on their investment.

The Mail revealed that Kroenke had a “crucial influence” in the ambitious signing of Eze before greenlighting the move, and now, according to transfer expert Dean Jones, Arsenal are investing further by tying down William Saliba to what could be a historic move.

TEAMtalk are relaying Jones’ comments that the North Londoners are preparing a contract for the Frenchman – ranked at no.2 in FourFourTwo’s list of the best centre-backs in the world right now – that would see him become the club’s record earner, seeing off interest from Real Madrid with two years left on his current deal.

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“Arsenal remain determined to tie William Saliba down to a new long-term contract, and from what I have been hearing, they have been ready to push the limits of their wage structure to make it happen,” Jones explained, suggesting that the Gunners could offer around £300,000-a-week.

FourFourTwo understands that former record signing Mesut Ozil extended his contract in 2018 for three years for around £350,000-a-week – but given that Saliba would be signing a longer-term deal, the defender’s deal could be worth over £20m more, and would thus break the record for the biggest contract ever awarded to a Gunner.

William Saliba is set for a steep wage increase (Image credit: Getty Images)

According to Capology, Kai Havertz is currently the biggest earner at the Emirates Stadium on £280,000-a-week, with Saliba seventh on the list with a base salary of £195,000-a-week.

The 24-year-old is worth €80m, according to Transfermarkt. Arsenal play Newcastle United when Premier League action returns next weekend.

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