Australia spin Pakistan out of first test | Thebigtip

North, Smith rout Pakistan - by Tom Wold in London, England from foxsports.com.au

Part-timer Marcus North and debutant Steve Smith have exposed Pakistan's deficiencies against spin bowling as Australia wrapped up a 150-run win in the first Test at Lord's.

North (6-55) returned the best bowling figures by an Australian spin bowler in a Test match at Lord's as Pakistan were dismissed for 289 in pursuit of 440 for victory on day four.

Smith (3-51) also chipped in as Pakistan continued their penchant for imploding against Australian spin.

If Shane Watson was a surprise first innings destroyer, then North was even more so as he worked his way through Pakistan's fragile middle order in their second dig.

His efforts guided Australia to their 13th straight win over Pakistan, a Test record against another nation.

The national side have also won seven Test matches on the trot.

North was introduced for the first time in the match in the 56th over of the Pakistan second innings with Australia finding opener Salman Butt (92) increasingly hard to budge.

The thought process was that North spins the ball away from left-handers and the move proved a master stroke by captain Ricky Ponting.

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