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Australia 487 (Warner 164, Marsh 90, Jamal 6-111) and 233 for 5 dec (Khawaja 90, Marsh 63*, Shahzad 3-45) beat Pakistan 271 (Imam 62, Lyon 3-66, Cummins 2-35) and 89 (Shakeel 24, Hazlewood 3-13, Starc 3-31) by 360 runs
Offspinner Nathan Lyon claimed his 500th Test wicket as Australia's formidable attack crushed hapless a Pakistan on a difficult Optus Stadium surface to win the first Test inside four days.
In the middle of the final session, with victory imminent for Australia, Lyon became the eighth bowler to reach the milestone when he dismissed Faheem Ashraf lbw on review to spark jubilant scenes of celebration among the Australia players and the sparse crowd of 9000 fans. He joined Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath as the only Australians to the landmark.
Lyon then clean bowled Aamer Jamal later in the over to cap a successful return, after taking five wickets for the match in his comeback from a calf injury that had prematurely ended his Ashes series. Pakistan, who lasted only 30.2 overs in their second innings, crumbled on a wicket that was spicy throughout and deteriorated as the match wore on, with rearing deliveries contrasted by balls that crept low. Set 450 to win after Australia declared 30 minutes into the second session, Pakistan succumbed to brilliant bowling from quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
They already faced a daunting task to avoid a 15th straight Test defeat in Australia, and it went almost as expected, as Pakistan were blown away in the opening seven overs to slump to 17 for 3. Opener Abdullah Shafique was caught behind in the first over when he poked at a menacing Starc delivery outside off. It was Starc's 200th Test wicket at home, as he bowled with far more consistency than in Pakistan's first innings.
Captain Shan Masood was dismissed for just 2 when he was caught behind off Hazlewood after driving loosely. It was a tough captaincy debut for Masood, even as he had made a breezy 30 in Pakistan's first innings; but his team were unable to play a proactive brand of cricket he had promised ahead of the series.
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The fact is that the performance of the team was simply lackluster. Australia is a venue where there is bounce for the ball and some elements of swing although nothing even close to what is witnessed in England or South Africa, however the outfield is fast and if you play your shots, you get returns. The best strategy of batting in australia is to be on the offensive. Offensive doesnt mean smash everything out of the park but positive cricket. Back yourself to be able to drive that 6th stump ball. If you play defensively on this venue then you are gone.
AS for bowling, the best style of bowling in australia has always been targeted. If you do alot of stuff, it will not work. Simply bowl a good channel and eventually the bounce and some swing will help you remove the batting side.
Now first innings australia batted and pakistani bowlers bowled some good deliveries which means that the issue wasnt in the inability of bowlers but for every good delivery, they bowled bad ones allowing australia to simply beat back the pressure.. Shaheen shah afridi was erratic and so was Ameer jamal. The fielding was abysmal as catches were dropped. Australia got a goodt score and all Pakistan had to do was match it to be in the game but the moment they came to bat, it was clear. Pakistan was in no mood to win. Immediately they became defensive playing for draw. Let me highlight the foolishness of this act. Since 1970, on Perth, the venue, there have been nearly 50 matches of which only 8 have been drawn. The rest were pure results. That is the mammoth task Pakistan took upon itself when there were still 4 days left to play. They came in defending and Australia knew that Pakistan was no longer looking for a win. They pounced with discipline and eventually Pakistan fell apart. There was not a single instance where we could say, Pakistan was in the game. Not a single one.
Offspinner Nathan Lyon claimed his 500th Test wicket as Australia's formidable attack crushed hapless a Pakistan on a difficult Optus Stadium surface to win the first Test inside four days.
In the middle of the final session, with victory imminent for Australia, Lyon became the eighth bowler to reach the milestone when he dismissed Faheem Ashraf lbw on review to spark jubilant scenes of celebration among the Australia players and the sparse crowd of 9000 fans. He joined Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath as the only Australians to the landmark.
Lyon then clean bowled Aamer Jamal later in the over to cap a successful return, after taking five wickets for the match in his comeback from a calf injury that had prematurely ended his Ashes series. Pakistan, who lasted only 30.2 overs in their second innings, crumbled on a wicket that was spicy throughout and deteriorated as the match wore on, with rearing deliveries contrasted by balls that crept low. Set 450 to win after Australia declared 30 minutes into the second session, Pakistan succumbed to brilliant bowling from quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
They already faced a daunting task to avoid a 15th straight Test defeat in Australia, and it went almost as expected, as Pakistan were blown away in the opening seven overs to slump to 17 for 3. Opener Abdullah Shafique was caught behind in the first over when he poked at a menacing Starc delivery outside off. It was Starc's 200th Test wicket at home, as he bowled with far more consistency than in Pakistan's first innings.
Captain Shan Masood was dismissed for just 2 when he was caught behind off Hazlewood after driving loosely. It was a tough captaincy debut for Masood, even as he had made a breezy 30 in Pakistan's first innings; but his team were unable to play a proactive brand of cricket he had promised ahead of the series.
Nathan Lyon joins 500 Test-wicket club as Australia crush Pakistan in Perth
Massive 360-run win set up by Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh's partnership, before visitors folded for 89
The fact is that the performance of the team was simply lackluster. Australia is a venue where there is bounce for the ball and some elements of swing although nothing even close to what is witnessed in England or South Africa, however the outfield is fast and if you play your shots, you get returns. The best strategy of batting in australia is to be on the offensive. Offensive doesnt mean smash everything out of the park but positive cricket. Back yourself to be able to drive that 6th stump ball. If you play defensively on this venue then you are gone.
AS for bowling, the best style of bowling in australia has always been targeted. If you do alot of stuff, it will not work. Simply bowl a good channel and eventually the bounce and some swing will help you remove the batting side.
Now first innings australia batted and pakistani bowlers bowled some good deliveries which means that the issue wasnt in the inability of bowlers but for every good delivery, they bowled bad ones allowing australia to simply beat back the pressure.. Shaheen shah afridi was erratic and so was Ameer jamal. The fielding was abysmal as catches were dropped. Australia got a goodt score and all Pakistan had to do was match it to be in the game but the moment they came to bat, it was clear. Pakistan was in no mood to win. Immediately they became defensive playing for draw. Let me highlight the foolishness of this act. Since 1970, on Perth, the venue, there have been nearly 50 matches of which only 8 have been drawn. The rest were pure results. That is the mammoth task Pakistan took upon itself when there were still 4 days left to play. They came in defending and Australia knew that Pakistan was no longer looking for a win. They pounced with discipline and eventually Pakistan fell apart. There was not a single instance where we could say, Pakistan was in the game. Not a single one.
