A FORMER Bradford League star made a stunning impact on his Test debut for Pakistan this week in their seven-wicket win over South Africa in Karachi.

Noman Ali, who at 34 became his country's fourth-oldest Test debutant, spun his way to magnificent match figures of 7-73, including a brilliant 5-35 in the second innings to set up an easy run chase.

Ali was a formidable player for both Manningham Mills and Bradford & Bingley between 2012 and 2017.

The big-hitting bowling all-rounder only averaged just over 20 with the bat, but is famous for being the only man in history to hit six sixes in an over during a Priestley Cup tie.

His highest score was 94 not out, which came in his final season in the league, with Bradford & Bingley.

But it was Ali's bowling which struck terror into the hearts of the opposition. His left-arm spin was responsible for 48 wickets in his debut season with Manningham Mills and a personal best of 52 with B&B in 2015.

In six seasons in the Bradford League, he averaged just 15.78 with the ball, and amassed an impressive 267 wickets.

But none of those would have meant as much as the seven he picked up this week.

He picked up the prized scalps of doughty opener Dean Elgar and South Africa captain Quinton de Kock in the first innings to help dismiss the visitors for 220.

Ali then scored a vital 24 batting at number 10 to see Pakistan up to 378.

But when the Proteas raced to 175-1 in their second innings, the hosts looked in a spot of bother.

But Ali took the key wicket of opener Aiden Markram as South Africa collapsed to 192-6, before taking the final four wickets for just 11 runs as the visitors were bowled out for 245 this morning.

Pakistan coasted home, losing just three wickets in their pursuit of 88 runs.

Teammate Faheem Ashraf spent a season at Undercliffe in 2015 and he contributed an impressive 64 down the order for Pakistan in the first innings.

The home side's team manager, Mansoor Rana, was a star player for both Queensbury and Baildon back in the day.

He is also the son of Shakoor Rana, the umpire who famously had a blazing row mid-Test match with England captain Mike Gatting in Faisalabad in 1987.

N.B: Many thanks to the Bradford League's communications and data officer Alan Birkinshaw for providing the necessary statistics and information.