PERTH, Dec 19: Australian paceman Glenn McGrath cut a swathe through Pakistan's batting here on Sunday claiming an astonishing 8-24 to crush the tourists by 491 runs on the fourth day of the first Test at the Western Australian Cricket Association ground.

It was the fourth-highest run victory in Test history. Pakistan could do nothing to stop the onslaught, folding meekly before lunch as the world champions, who had set them 564 runs for victory on Saturday, ruthlessly set about demolishing their second innings.

The tourists, who had played a flurry of rash shots in their first innings to collapse for just 179 in reply to Australia's 381, showed they had learned nothing from their mistakes, falling time and again to McGrath's swinging deliveries.

The Australian had seemed poised to take all 10 of Pakistan's wickets - a feat that has been achieved only twice in Test history - until his tea-mate Michael Kasprowicz denied him the honour by bowling Mohammad Sami for two.

At that stage Kasprowicz had 1-0 but he then cleaned up the Pakistan innings three balls before the lunch break when he had Mohammad Khalil caught and bowled for five to finish with 2-4 in the innings and 7-34 for the match.

Pakistan had resumed on Sunday at 18 for one after Australia rammed home their superiority on Saturday by declaring their second innings closed at 361 for five. Captain Ricky Ponting had already chosen not to enforce the follow on after the first innings because of widening cracks on the wicket.

But it was not the cracks that destroyed Pakistan, rather it was a beautiful display of disciplined bowling against an undisciplined batting line-up that saw them lose 9-54 during the morning session.

Yousuf Youhana with 27 and Younis Khan with 17 were the only batsman to reach double figures with opener Imran Farhat, all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and pace man Shoaib Akhtar all falling for just one run.

Captain Inzamamul Haq spent more time walking to the crease than he did batting, caught behind by Adam Gilchrist while facing his first delivery. He joined Kamran Akmal who also made a duck. Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Aktar and Yousu all played at balls which could easily have been left.

In the end only the injured Shoaib, who hurt his left shoulder while fielding on Saturday, showed any resilience, facing 21 balls despite scoring just one. Pakistan now faces a huge battle to salvage anything from the Test series against Australia with the second match to start in Melbourne on Dec 26.

SCOREBOARD