Perth, December 17, 2023 – In a spectacular display of cricket prowess, Australia emerged victorious in the first Test against Pakistan at Optus Stadium, securing a commanding 360-run win within four days of play.
The highlight of the match was off-spinner Nathan Lyon reaching a monumental milestone of 500 Test wickets, joining the elite ranks of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.
As the final session unfolded, with Australia poised for victory, Lyon dismissed Faheem Ashraf lbw on review, triggering jubilant celebrations among the Australian players and the modest crowd of 9000 fans. Lyon’s achievement places him in esteemed company, becoming the eighth bowler in history to accomplish this feat and only the third Australian alongside Warne and McGrath.
Lyon’s stellar performance continued as he clean bowled Aamer Jamal in the same over, capping off a successful return after his recovery from a calf injury that cut short his participation in the Ashes series. The Optus Stadium pitch, offering a challenging surface throughout the match, played a crucial role as Pakistan struggled, enduring a collapse that lasted only 30.2 overs in their second innings.
Facing a daunting target of 450 runs after Australia declared in the second session, Pakistan succumbed to the exceptional bowling trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins. The writing was on the wall as early as the seventh over when Pakistan found themselves at a precarious 17 for 3.
Opener Abdullah Shafique fell victim to Starc’s menacing delivery, marking the paceman’s 200th Test wicket at home. Captain Shan Masood’s debut as captain was marred by a dismissal for just 2, caught behind off Hazlewood. Despite a valiant effort from talisman Babar Azam, who resisted for almost ten overs, he succumbed to Cummins, caught behind on 14.
The only lingering curiosity was whether Pakistan could extend the match to a fifth day, coupled with Lyon’s pursuit of his milestone. However, hopes dwindled as Sarfaraz Ahmed fell in the slips off Starc, and a calamitous run-out of Salman Ali Afgha unfolded after a mix-up with Saud Shakeel.
Pakistan’s bowling, led by debutant seamers Khurram Shahzad and Aamer Jamal, had initially shown promise by claiming 12 of the team’s 15 wickets in the match. However, spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi struggled, finishing with modest figures of 2 for 172 from 45.2 overs. Pakistan’s attack faced challenges early in the Test, failing to contain David Warner, who dominated the first day with a formidable century.
For Australia, Mitchell Marsh’s all-round performance, including two half-centuries and the crucial wicket of Babar in Pakistan’s first innings, added to the team’s success. Opener Usman Khawaja’s gritty 90 in Australia’s second innings contributed to the team’s total dominance.
The match, played against the backdrop of a rebranded Perth Test with an impressive attendance of more than 59,000 fans, showcased a lively surface reminiscent of historic WACA Tests. While Australia celebrated a convincing win, Pakistan’s struggles on Australian soil persisted, with their last Test victory in the country dating back more than two decades. The comprehensive victory underscores Australia’s dominance and sets the tone for the remainder of the series.
