The home side then responded by making 29 without loss by the close.

Australian captain Steve Waugh won the toss and bowled first, a ploy which worked with only Mohammad Wasim (91) offering serious resistance.

Moin Khan walks away after scoring just one run

McGrath's immaculate opening spell of two for six from nine overs had Pakistan in trouble at 18 for two.

And just when a fightback was emerging at 120 for three, Mark Waugh took a low one-handed diving catch at second slip to get rid of the dangerous Yousuf Youhana for 17.

"We just found out a little while ago," Mark Waugh said of McGrath's achievement of becoming this country's fourth highest wicket-taker.

But the skipper admitted the team had been so busy dismissing Pakistan they had failed to mark the paceman's milestone.

"We forgot to congratulate him. It's a tremendous effort, he's been a great bowler for Australia at a good strike rate of about four or five wickets a game.

Azhra Mahmood ducks a McGrath bouncer

"I still don't think he's bowling as well as he can but he still doesn't let you down, he's always there at 100 percent and I'm glad we've got him."

With 250 Test wickets only Dennis Lillee (355), Warne (337) and Craig McDermott (291) are above McGrath as leading Australian wicket-takers.

"To pass Richie (Benaud) is quite a big buzz because he is such a big name in the sport," McGrath said.

"I've been getting close to the 250 and it's good to finally reach it."

Scorecard

Australia won toss

Pakistan 1st innings

Saeed Anwar c Warne b McGrath 0
Mohammad Wasim c Gilchrist b Muller 91
Ijaz Ahmed c Slater b McGrath 6
Inzamam-ul-Haq b Muller 12
Yousuf Youhana c M. Waugh b Fleming 17
Azhar Mahmood b Warne 27
Moin Khan c McGrath b Muller 1
Wasim Akram c Gilchrist b Warne 29
Saqlain Mushtaq lbw b Warne 3
Waqar Younis not out 12
Shoaib Akhtar c Gilchrist b Fleming 5

Extras (b10, lb6, w3) 19

Total (all out, 72.5 overs) 222

Fall of wkts: 1-4, 2-18, 3-71, 4-120, 5-148, 6-153, 7-188, 8-198, 9-217, 10-222

Bowling: McGrath 18-8-34-2, Fleming 24.5-7-54-2, Muller 12-0-68-3 (3w), Warne 16-6-45-3, Blewett 2-1-5-0

Australia 1st innings

M.J. Slater not out 16
G.S. Blewett not out 9

Extras (b1, nb3) 4

Total (no wkt, 16 overs) 29

Bowling: Akram 6-2-13-0 (3nb), Akhtar 6-2-9-0, Waqar 3-1-4-0, Saqlain 1-0-2-0