North spins Australia to victory to usher Afridi towards retirement

An eventful fourth, and final, day of the Lord's Test match saw Australia defeat Pakistan by 150 runs before Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi announced he would again be retiring from Test cricket.

Pakistan began the day on 114-1 needing 440 for an unlikely victory. Yet when they reached 186-2, with half an hour to go before lunch, it seemed they were on course to at least run their opponents close.

Then followed the introduction of part-time off-spinner Marcus North - a player with just six wickets in his previous 15 Test appearances - who dismissed opener Salman Butt for 92, to a leg-side stumping, with his first delivery.

North struck again in the over before lunch to remove dangerman Umar Akmal for 22 to swing the match firmly in the way of Australia.

Afridi's final act before announcing he would retire once and for all from Test cricket was to become North's fourth victim when he swung recklessly to the midwicket boundary on two.

Leg-spinner Steve Smith chipped in with three wickets - including Kamran Akmal for 46 - but North fittingly claimed the final wicket to finish with the unlikely figures of 6-55.

Afridi - who had only recently returned to Test action following a four-year break - revealed after the match that he did not have the 'temperament' for Test cricket any longer but he will hold onto his position for one further game, at Headingley, providing he recovers from a side strain.