Pakistan suffer heavy defeat in Perth Test

Nathan Lyon achieved his 500th Test wicket on Sunday as Australia dismissed a struggling Pakistan for a mere 89, securing a resounding 360-run victory in the opening Test at Perth.

Pakistan's improbable attempt to claim their first Test win in Australia since 1995 was shattered by the spin maestro and the home team's formidable pace attack, swiftly concluding the game within four days.

In pursuit of 450 for victory, the visitors surrendered meekly with Lyon claiming 2-18. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood also secured three wickets each.

Having been stuck on 499 after Pakistan's initial innings, Lyon finally reached the milestone by dismissing Faheem Ashraf lbw. However, there was an anxious wait as it underwent review. He then bowled out Aamer Jamal in the same over, joining an exclusive club of just seven other players, including fellow spinners Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka and Australia's Shane Warne.

Australia declared on the fourth day at 233-5 after Pakistan were dismissed for 271 in their first innings, responding to the hosts' 487.

Captain Pat Cummins made the decision after opener Usman Khawaja was out for a brave 90 on a deteriorating pitch, following a 126-run partnership with Mitchell Marsh.

Marsh remained unbeaten on 63 after Pakistan eliminated Steve Smith and Travis Head early in the day, briefly giving themselves hope that quickly faded.

Facing a daunting chase, they had a disastrous start with Abdullah Shafique dismissed for two in the opening over, edging an unplayable delivery from Starc to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

Captain Shan Masood, in his inaugural Test in charge, didn't endure much longer, edging to Carey off Hazlewood, leaving his team in dire straits at 17-2.

Starc also accounted for Imam-ul-Haq, trapping him lbw for 10, before Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel showed some resistance.

However, their efforts crumbled when Azam edged to Cummins on 14, with Carey claiming the catch once more.

After tea, Sarfaraz Ahmed lasted only six balls before being caught by Marsh at gully off Starc, and Agha Salman was unnecessarily run out.

Lyon then showcased his expertise before Hazlewood wrapped up the tail.

Australia had resumed at 84-2, with Khawaja on 34 and Smith 43.

It was hard going at the start with cracks appearing on the pitch, with Pakistan's pace bowlers beating the bat and causing problems.

Impressive debutant Khurram Shahzad got a breakthrough in the fourth over of the day, trapping Smith lbw for 45 with a ball that nipped back.

Enter the aggressive Travis Head, who stroked a straight drive boundary off the second ball he faced to signal his intent.

But he lived dangerously and a misjudged drive off Aamer Jamal went straight to Haq at cover, out for 14.

Both Marsh and Khawaja survived reviews in the same eventful Jamal over as Pakistan ratcheted up the pressure.

Marsh hit sixes off Jamal then spinner Salman to keep the scoreboard moving, before a huge escape on 23 when Masood dropped a sitter at mid-off.

At the other end, Khawaja kept grinding away to make a 25th Test half-century off 151 balls, accelerating after he reached the mark.

Marsh cracked a thunderous drive off Shaheen Shah Afridi to bring up his second 50 of the match as both men attacked the bowling after lunch.

Khawaja raced to 90 with some audacious boundaries before his luck ran out going for another big shot, caught by Azam off Afridi, which brought about the declaration.

Both teams now head to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test before the series wraps up in Sydney.