Nathan Lyon on Sunday achieved a significant milestone by joining the prestigious 500-wicket club. The seam-friendly Perth Stadium surface played to Lyon’s advantage as he contributed 2-18, aiding Australia in bowling out Pakistan for a mere 89 runs. This dominant performance paved the way for Australia to secure a commanding 360-run victory on the fourth day of the first test.
Australia, defending a target of 450, showcased their formidable seam attack, dismantling Pakistan’s top-order in the afternoon session. Lyon claimed his 500th wicket by dismissing tail-ender Faheem Ashraf lbw, adding to the woes of the touring side, which ultimately folded within 31 overs.
Having declared at 233-5 in 63.2 overs after lunch, Australia had previously posted 487 in their first innings and bowled out Pakistan for 271. Pakistan’s fourth-innings run-chase began disastrously as they slumped to 48-4 within 15 overs before tea.
Josh Hazlewood (3-13) and Mitchell Starc (3-31) were instrumental in causing the most damage, but Lyon’s achievement took the spotlight as he joined the exclusive ranks of Australians with 500 wickets, alongside legends Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.
Despite a caught-behind review setback in the 26th over, Lyon secured his milestone in the 28th over by dismissing Ashraf for five. The spinner celebrated by raising the ball and embracing his teammates before adding Aamer Jamal (4) to his tally by clean-bowling him later in the same over.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s debutant seamers, Khurram Shahzad (3-45) and Aamer Jamal (1-28), outperformed their more experienced counterparts. They accounted for the three Australian wickets to fall on the penultimate day. Usman Khawaja (90) and Mitchell Marsh (63 not out) built on their innings throughout the morning session, with Marsh playing the aggressor.
The innings concluded when Khawaja mistimed a cut to third-man, prompting the Australian skipper Pat Cummins to declare.
