Nathan Lyon quells Pakistan resistance for 2-0 sweep

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Shan Masood and Asad Shafiq attempted a resistance, but a five-wicket haul for Nathan Lyon on Monday, 2 December, comprehensively decided the result in favour of the hosts soon after the dinner break.

Australia are thus unbeaten in pink-ball Tests, winning all six they have played. Pakistan's woes in Australia, where they have been swept in five straight Test series, continue.

Lyon finished with 5/69 in his 25 overs, having been vital to his side in breaking stubborn partnerships. Josh Hazlewood had 3/63, picking up the last two wickets in the first full over of the final session to bowl out Pakistan for 239. Even with their first-innings 302, Pakistan were nowhere close to Australia's 589/3 in the hosts' only hit.

With Pakistan starting the day on 39/3 and still trailing by 248 runs, Masood began positively in the first hour. He took on Mitchell Starc for a couple of fours, danced down to Lyon for a six, and found the ropes off Josh Hazlewood, too, to near his fifty. Along with Shafiq, he brought up the team 100 during a 103-run stand.

Lyon, though, sent back both set batsmen before the break. Masood (68) was caught inside the circle while trying to go over mid-off, whereas Shafiq (57) was surprised by the bounce and found Warner at leg slip.

Iftikhar Ahmed (27) and Mohammad Rizwan (45) engineered another frustrating partnership for the hosts, and it again fell upon Lyon to break through. Iftikhar was caught by a juggling Marnus Labuschagne at short leg, before Yasir Shah – the unlikely first-innings century-maker – was trapped in front.

Lyon got his fifth in the final over before dinner, when Shaheen Shah Afridi went for a big one and only got a top-edge.

With the win, Australia cemented their No.2 position on the Championship points table. David Warner, whose brilliant 335* had set up their first innings, was named Player of the Match and Series.