Lyon spins Australia to victory

REUTERS - Nathan Lyon grabbed five wickets to spin Australia to an emphatic innings and 48-run victory in the second Test against Pakistan today (02) as the hosts swept the series 2-0.

Called to follow on, Pakistan's batsmen battled hard at Adelaide Oval to make Australia bat again but were bowled out for 239 in their second innings shortly after the dinner break of the Day-Night Test.

Four years after sweeping Misbah-ul-Haq's Pakistan 3-0, Australia maintained their perfect record against the south Asians on home soil.

Denied a wicket despite some good spells in Pakistan's first innings 302, Lyon smashed through their defences on a docile pitch, removing Shaan Masood and Asad Shafiq before tea after both scored defiant half centuries.

He returned to break another stubborn 47-run partnership between number six Iftikhar Ahmed and wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan, with Marnus Labuschagne finally catching a nick at short leg after grassing three earlier chances in the Test.

With Iftikhar, Pakistan's last specialist batsman gone, it was only a matter of time for the tourists.

Yasir Shah was unable to repeat his first innings heroics when he scored an unlikely ton. He fell for 13 when trapped lbw by Lyon and duly threw away a referral trying to overturn the decision.

The dinner break held up Australia's victory march but they took the second new ball shortly after the interval, allowing Josh Hazlewood to bowl Rizwan.

A comical mix-up between tail-enders saw Pat Cummins run out Mohammad Abbas for the final wicket to wrap up the match.

While Lyon enjoyed the spoils on day four, the match belonged to opener David Warner, who scored an unbeaten 335 to drive Australia to a mammoth first-innings total of 589 for three.

Despite a brave maiden century by Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir, it proved too much to overcome for Azhar Ali's side, who were rocked by Australia's pace bowlers on two successive nights when the pink ball was at its most devilish under the lights.

Australia

1st innings 589 for 3 declared

Pakistan

1st innings 302

2nd innings

S. Masood c Starc b Lyon 68

I. ul-Haq lbw b Hazlewood 00

A. Ali c Smith b Starc 09

B. Azam c Paine b Hazlewood 08

A. Shafiq c Warner b Lyon 57

I. Ahmed c Labuschagne b Lyon 27

M. Rizwan b Hazlewood 45

Y. Shah lbw b Lyon 13

S. Afridi c Hazlewood b Lyon 01

M. Abbas run out 01

M. Musa not out 04

Extras: (lb6) 06

Total: (all out; 82 overs) 239

Fall: 1-2, 2-11, 3-20, 4-123, 5-154, 6-201, 7-221, 8-229, 9-235

Bowling: Starc 16-3-47-1, Hazlewood 23-4-63-3, Cummins 15-4-45-0, Lyon 25-7-69-5, Labuschagne 3-0-9-0