Pakistan all out for 89, Australia clinches easy 360-run victory

1. Australia won the first test against Pakistan by 89 runs.
2. Nathan Lyon’s 2-18 helped bowl out Pakistan for 89.
3. Pakistan’s run chase crumbled to 48-4 before tea.

On the fourth day of the first test, Australia bowled out Pakistan for 89 runs to clinch a 360-run victory thanks to Nathan Lyon’s 2-18 performance on a seam-friendly Perth Stadium surface. Nathan Lyon became the newest member of the prestigious 500-wicket club.

Australia’s renowned seam attack decimated Pakistan’s top order in the afternoon while defending a victory total of 450. This allowed Lyon to trap tail-ender Faheem Ashraf leg before wicket and celebrate his milestone before the tourists collapsed in 31 overs.

Following lunch, Australia declared on 233-5 in 63.2 overs, having previously scored 487 and bowled Pakistan out for 271 in the first innings.

Before tea, Pakistan’s fourth-inning run chase got off to a disastrous start as they were reduced to 48-4 in just 15 overs.

The two players who caused the most damage were Josh Hazlewood (3-13) and Mitchell Starc (3-31) but all eyes were on Lyon, who was trying to become the ninth man overall and join Australians Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563) as the only other players with 500 wickets.

In the 26th over, the 36-year-old was dismissed for a caught-behind review, but he found his man in the 28th over, going upwards once more to send Ashraf packing for five, with Hawk-Eye making touch with the stumps.

The bowler lifted the ball into the air, embraced his teammates, and then, just for good measure, clean-bowled Aamer Jamal (4) later in the over.

The three Australian wickets to fall on the penultimate day were taken earlier in the day by Khurram Shahzad (3-45) and Jamal (1-28), who were more impressive than the more seasoned Shaheen Afridi and Ashraf.

Mitchell Marsh (63 not out) and Usman Khawaja (90) steadily gathered during the morning session and picked up speed following lunch in an attempt to make a declaration. Marsh finished with seven fours and two sixes, feeling more at ease in his role as the aggressor.

After Khawaja sliced too close to the third man, captain Pat Cummins decided to stop the inning.

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