Watch: Nathan Lyon picked up his 500th Test wicket by trapping Faheem Ashraf in front on day four of the first Australia vs Pakistan Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth today (December 17).
Australia set a huge target of 450 for Pakistan on the fourth day after making the score 233-5. Mitchell Marsh remained unbeaten for almost half a century since scoring, but Australia’s innings came to an end in the 90th minute whenUsman Khawaja was sent off.
Pakistan did not protect itself. Mitchell Starc faced Abdullah Shafiq in the first over. The visitors were reduced to 19-3 with two more wickets falling in the first 10 overs. Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel formed a mini-partnership for the fourth wicket, with the former adding 29 runs before he caught Pat Cummins.
Lyon, who had 499 wickets, turned to attack in the 12th over and deprived Faheem Ashraf of a valuable scalp in the 28th over by forcing him to play the wrong line.
Lyon bowled the ball around the wicket, wide on middle and off and carried the ball straight with his arm, hitting Ashraf’s inside edge and ricocheting off his pads. The field umpire signaled not to be outed and the Australians headed for review. In his chase for the ball he showed three reds and Lyon took his 500th Test wicket.
When Lyon became the third Australian, fourth spinner and eighth bowler overall to take 500 wickets in a Test match, the on-air commentator said: “He is among the elite.” Said.
He then dismissed Aamer Jamal for four balls to take the second wicket of the innings as Australia bowled out Pakistan for 89 and won the Test by 360 runs.
Watch Nathan Lyon pick his 500th Test wicket:
FIVE HUNDRED! #AUSvPAK #PlayOfTheDay @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/DyDC5hUdTJ
– cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) 17. 2023 年 12 月
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