Veteran Australia spinner Nathan Lyon claimed his long-awaited 400th Test victim and spun the hosts to an emphatic 9-wicket victory over England in the first Ashes Test at Gabba on Saturday (December 11).
Resuming their second innings on 220/2 with the match still within their grasp, England lost eight wickets for 77 runs to be bowled out for 297 in the first session on Day 4, leaving Australia needing only 20 runs to win.
Lyon was wrecker-in-chief with the ball, returning with the outstanding figures of 4 for 91 in his 34 overs. He entered the 400 Test wickets club by picking the prized scalp of Dawid Malan (82), who added a crucial 162-run stand for the third wicket with captain Joe Root (89).
With this achievement, the off-spinner joined the elite company of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath as the only other Australian players to reach the landmark. Ollie Pope (4), Ollie Robinson (8), and Mark Wood (6) were his three other victims in England’s second innings.
Chasing 20 to win, Australia lost the wicket of Alex Carey and overhauled the paltry target in 5.1 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series.
Cricket fraternity congratulated Nathan Lyon as he claimed 400 Test scalps and spun Australia to an emphatic victory at Gabba.
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