Pakistan in North's web

LONDON (AP):

Australia beat Pakistan by 150 runs on the fourth day of the first Test at Lord's, with part-time spinner Marcus North claiming six wickets to be the surprise match-winner yesterday.

Pakistan were bowled out for 289 before tea while attempting to chase a world-record victory target of 440.

Afterwards, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, playing his first Test in four years, said he will quit Test cricket after the second and final Test next week if he can overcome a side injury.

"I think I am not good enough for Test cricket, I do not have the temperament, you could say I am not strong enough mentally," Afridi said with remarkable honesty.

Watson the Bowling hero

"My shot selection was not good - Ricky Ponting probably only expected to bowl North for one or two overs."

North took 6-55 in less than 19 overs, first taking the prize wicket of top scorer Salman Butt (92) with his first delivery of the match. Another occasional bowler, Shane Watson, was the bowling hero in the first innings with 5-40.

It meant Australia won their seventh Test in succession and 14th over Pakistan, who must claim their first Test win over the Australians in 15 years at Headingley next week to draw the two-match series.

"It was a good game of cricket and one that we all enjoyed," Ponting said. "Test matches are not easy to win, as we all know."

Pakistan, who won the toss in bowler-friendly conditions on Tuesday, limited the Australians to 252 in their first innings but ultimately were behind the game as soon as they was dismissed for just 148. Australia made 334 second time round to set the challenging run chase.

"Australia are beatable," Afridi said when asked if his team still believed they could win against the Australians, "but in Test cricket they are very strong and you need to be very, very strong mentally."

Pakistan, resuming on 114-1 yesterday, lost their first wicket in the morning session when Azhar Ali was caught by wicketkeeper Tim Paine off Ben Hilfenhaus for 42.

Australia struggled to exploit the overcast conditions for the first 40 minutes as Mitchell Johnson, in particular, bowled without any discipline and offered too many boundary opportunities.

But Australia finally made the breakthrough when Hilfenhaus gleaned an edge off debutant Azhar, who spent just over two hours at the crease.

Butt, who made 63 in the first innings, looked set to go on to a first Lord's century until he was stumped for 92, off 173 balls. It was an innocuous delivery angled down the leg-side and Butt attempted a leg glance, over-balanced, and Paine completed a neat stumping.

Disconsolate

A disconsolate Butt remained at the crease with his head bowed for about 10 seconds until he kicked angrily at the turf and exited the field.

The entertaining middle-order batsman Umar Akmal made his intentions known instantly when he clubbed left-arm fast bowler Doug Bollinger back past him to the boundary. Bollinger, surprisingly, still had a few angry words for the unflustered Akmal.

Akmal also attacked North and, in the 60th over, advanced down the pitch and lifted him over long on for six. He looked to repeat the stroke in North's next over but just managed four runs on that occasion.