Australia have clinched a rare series victory in Pakistan by taking five wickets in the final session to win the third Test.
Set a target of 351 runs, Pakistan were bowled out for 235 with Australian spinner Nathan Lyon taking five wickets on Friday’s last day in Lahore.
Australia’s 115-run win delivers Pat Cummins’ team a 1-0 series triumph after draws in the initial two Tests.
And Australia claim just their third series triumph in Pakistan in nine attempts, following victories in 1959 and 1998.
On Australia’s first tour of Pakistan since that series win 24 years ago, Cummins and co needed to take all 10 of Pakistan’s second innings wickets on the last day in Lahore.
Entering the final session, they still needed five more.
But offspinner Lyon triggered a Pakistan slide by dismissing captain Babar Azam for 55 and the hosts lost their last five wickets in eight overs.
Lyon finished with 5-83 from 37 overs with pacemen Cummins (3-23), Mitchell Starc (1-53) and allrounder Cameron Green (1-18) the other wicket-takers.
Green claimed the initial breakthrough, removing opener Abdullah Shafique for 27 in the fourth over of the day.
Some 15 overs later, Lyon claimed Azhar Ali’s wicket, courtesy of a successful video review.
Azhar (17) attempted a sweep shot but the ball lobbed to Steve Smith at slip who, along with other Australians, immediately appealed for a catch.
Umpire Ahsan Raza ruled not out and Australia sought a review: replays showed the faintest of audio spikes when the ball passed Azhar’s bat before hitting his pad en route to Smith.
After lunch, Lyon dismissed Imam-ul-Haq (70) before a double-strike from Cummins – he trapped Fawad Alam lbw for 11 and, in his next over, produced a superb inswinger which struck Mohammad Rizwan on the front foot.
Rizwan was given out lbw for a duck and chose not to review the decision despite replays showing the ball hit him outside the line of off stump.
Rizwan’s departure left Pakistan 5-167 and the home side’s hopes of their highest successful run-chase on home soil, topping the 1994 team’s effort in making 314 against Mark Taylor’s Australian team in Karachi, had disappeared.
Their predicament could have been worse with Babar, on 45, dropped by Travis Head at deep square leg from Lyon’s bowling in the last over before tea.
Australia took the second new ball some two balls after the break with Babar and Sajid Khan scoring 14 runs from the next four balls.
But the tide turned irrevocably Australia’s way when Lyon outed Babar for 55: the Pakistani skipper edged to slip where Steve Smith took a reflex catch at boot-strap height.
Pakistan’s tail then folded meekly and rapidly with Cummins fittingly taking the final wicket to seal victory.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
I already answered all of the questions you raised in my previous post
Kalva
Roar Rookie
What made you think I was a subcontinental troll? What made you think I was even from the subcontinent? What made you think I was a troll? What made you think I haven’t posted before? There was nothing, I repeat nothing I said that would have revealed that? If my profile was Paul Smith, would you have responded the same way? You are revealing everything about yourself.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
That's because I am unapologetic. We get a lot of subcontinental trolls on here, typically appearing, as you did, at the end of a series once the result is already determined to sink the boot in Do you honestly think I'm going to review your profile to assess your previous contributions? Not a chance. Should I have picked up that you're a roar rookie and not a guest, yes probably. Is there anything else to say? Nup
Kalva
Roar Rookie
No you did a bit of racial stereotyping and got it badly wrong. Don't even have the decency to apologize.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The Scarlett Pimpernel
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I like Lyon when he bowls attacking. When he bowls defensively, when he shouldn't be, it drives me up the wall.
Pete
Guest
427 wickets is pretty handy for a "defensive" bowler...
Rob
Guest
hahahah what a ridiculous comment. Langer never won an away series but you expect us to believe we would of won 2-0 with him in charge. Langer is also the same guy who was in charge at Headingly, Sydney and the Gabba where we let games slip away.
Mike B
Guest
Yep - I'll shut up now! He was a better cricketer than me.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Ok
Mike B
Guest
It's also been well documented that the Chappell mafia worked very hard at excluding players they didn't like or want. Yallop, for example was hated by them as was Hughes. WSC was a "sign the boys we like" club. Honestly, how else did Trevor at that stage of his career, get a gig ahead far more established, but Chappell disliked, players? It's easy to be liked by a team that you've hand picked and offered an opportunity to. I also, don't buy the "Chappell would've done well in Asia" line. Yes, facts predict he would have but until you achieve something it's all summation. Chappell has, for years, criticised players who failed to achieve what he never did himself. Many players have toured to destinations where they were expected to succeed and failed. Chappell predicted Usman would fail in Pakistan. Well he was so wrong there it's not funny. I'm well aware that Chappell's average was 50 when captain. It must've been lowish when not the boss to bring his career average to 43! Chappell plays favourites and holds very bad grudges. For me, Steve Waugh comes out ahead as he simply plays a straight bat at him. I think by not biting, it winds Chappell up even more. In one of his books Chappell devoted a whole chapter to Steve Waugh, why he didn't like him and character assassination. At that stage, I was quite respectful of Chappell, hence why I read his book. By the end of that chapter I was thinking "get over it mate. You need therapy here!" A whole chapter of his book dedicated to the hatred of Waugh! Seriously. For me, after reading that immature venting, he plummeted in my esteem. It was as sad as Warnie banging on about his hatred of Waugh on "I'm a celebrity get me out of here." It was a tad embarrassing when, after whining about his being dropped in the Windies, he was asked by a not-too-well-informed fellow celeb "did they win the match?" He had to answer "yes". The follow up comment was along the lines of "well, didn't Waugh get the job done then?" When Steve Waugh released his ridiculously long tome some years back, I laughed and laughed when Chappelli warranted nothing more than a single reference. Waugh said he was never one to be propping up a bar at 5am regurgitating the same stories over and over. That's all Chappelli got from Waugh in reply. To quote Kenny R - "You gotta know when to hold 'em...etc" I'd back Waugh in a game of poker, gun duel/whatever over Chappell every day of the week. For me, Chappell's personal agendas get boring and predictable. He likes players that pray to the Chappell alter and actively works against those that don't. Chappell was a good bat at number 3, not an all time great, but like Boonie - very good. He was also a good and strong captain - not for a particularly long time - who captained 25% of the time against a particularly weak NZ team. I followed the '72 Ashes so closely as a kid - he did well. He also had Lillee and Thommo, in their prime, at his disposal, for quite a number of tests. He also had some handy players like brother Greg, Marsh, Walters and Mallett to chip in when needed. And, as mentioned, whether denied the opportunity or not, he never captained in Asia. He batted in India for 5 tests and a 46 average, 4 tests against India in Australia for a disappointing 30 average. He never batted in Pakistan but played 5 tests against Pakistan in Australia for a very healthy 58 average. Nothing approaching what Usman has achieved, or indeed, what Cummins has achieved.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Nortje , Olivier and Maharaj too . It’s going to easily be the best bowling attack Aus has faced past few seasons . Batting a concern but new prospects Petersen , Verrynne look very promising . Then there is 18 year old Dewald Brevis . Is mentored by AB de Villiers and in fact attended same High School as Mr 360 . Made his first class debut Feb this year and already got almost immediately signed by Mumbai Indians for this years IPL . Hope he is selected for the Aus tour . SA is still rebuilding after a spate of High profile retirements but so far looking very good for the future . This upcoming tour probably come a year too soon for this young and inexperienced bunch but you gotta start somewhere.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
High praise from the master Mitcher. I've got so much to learn from you
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Meh I guessed wrong but that's what happens when you pop up purely to sink the boot into Pakistan after their excellent performance
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Selection has been really bad throughout.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
This was a very poor tour by the Aussies. Those first 2 tests were a mess.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
NSWelshmen? Why single them out? Lyon was brilliant ,as he always is. The rest just did their jobs, nothing outstanding. Still struggling to remove the top order, which is their main job. Warner did just ok, Smith was quite poor.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
With Langer in charge i reckon they would've won 2-0 but that is what it is.
Keith Griffen
Guest
Looking forward to rabada Jansen and Ngidi taking on Australia this summer. Gonna be one hell of a series. South Africa will be looking for their 4th series victory in a row on Australian soil