Australia beat Pakistan by 150 runs on the fourth day of the first test at Lord’s, with part-time spinner Marcus North claiming six wickets to be the surprise match-winner on Friday.
Pakistan was bowled out for 289 before tea while attempting to chase a world record victory target of 440.
North took 6-55, first taking the prize wicket of top scorer Salman Butt (92) with his first delivery of the match. Another occasional bowler, Shane Watson, was the bowling hero in the first innings with 5-40.
It meant Australia won its seventh test in succession and 14th over Pakistan, which must claim its first test win over the Australians in 15 years at Headingley next week to draw the two-match series.
Pakistan, which won the toss in bowler-friendly conditions on Tuesday, limited the Australians to 252 in their first innings but ultimately was behind the game as soon as it was dismissed for just 148. Australia made 334 second time round to set the challenging run chase.
Pakistan, resuming on 114-1 on Friday, lost its first wicket in the morning session when Azhar Ali was caught by wicketkeeper Tim Paine off Ben Hilfenhaus for 42.
Australia struggled to exploit the overcast conditions for the first 40 minutes as Mitchell Johnson in particular bowled without any discipline and offered too many boundary opportunities.
But Australia finally made the breakthrough when Hilfenhaus gleaned an edge off debutant Azhar, who spent just over two hours at the crease.
Butt, who made 63 in the first innings, looked set to go on to a first Lord’s century until he was stumped for 92, off 173 balls. It was an innocuous delivery angled down the leg-side and Butt attempted a leg glance, overbalanced, and Paine completed a neat stumping.
A disconsolate Butt remained at the crease with his head bowed for about 10 seconds until he kicked angrily at the turf and exited the field.
The entertaining middle-order batsman Umar Akmal made his intentions known instantly when he clubbed left-arm fast bowler Doug Bollinger back past him to the boundary. Bollinger, surprisingly, still had a few angry words for the unflustered Akmal.
Akmal also attacked North and, in the 60th over, advanced down the pitch and lifted him over long on for a six. He looked to repeat the stroke in North’s next over but just managed four runs on that occasion.
But Akmal’s attacking nature was his downfall when he fell to the final ball before lunch, caught at slip by Michael Clarke off North while trying to cut him through point but managing only a gloved deflection. That was 216-4.
Pakistan slipped to 229-6 shortly after lunch when Umar Amin’s inside edge off North was caught by Simon Katich at short leg on 33, and captain Shahid Afridi’s aggressive instincts failed when he was caught on the midwicket boundary by Mike Hussey, also off North for 2.
Kamran Akmal hit 46 off 82 balls until he tried to slog leg-spinner Steven Smith over midwicket and was bowled. Pakistan lost its last four wickets for just six runs as North and Smith shared nine wickets in the Lord’s sunshine.
South African umpire Rudi Koertzen, who will officiate his last test at Headingley, was allowed the lead the players off the field on his final appearance at Lord’s.
Pakistan is playing as the home team even though the match is being staged at a neutral venue because of the precarious security situation in its homeland.
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