Mitchell Starc showed his class in his 100th Test match, picking up 6 wickets in no time, including the first five wickets of the innings as Australia thrashed West Indies by 176 runs to sweep the series 3-0. Australia won this Pink Ball Test in 2.5 days and showed their class with the ball while being a bit wobbly with the bat.
Australia lost their last 4 wickets for 22 runs on Day 3 to be bowled out for 121 and set West Indies 204 for a consolation win. Chasing 204, the West Indies were brought down to their knees as they lost wickets like a pack of cards. Starc’s 6/9 and Scott Boland’s hat-trick ensured the West Indies were bowled out for 27 in 14.3 overs and lost the match by 176 runs. With the Test match done and dusted in 2 and a bit days, let’s review the whole Test as a whole.
Shamar Joseph’s 4-wicket haul restricts Australia to 225
Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Australia got starts but never could score big in the first innings. Usman Khawaja made 23 off 92 balls while Sam Konstas made 17 off 53 balls. Cameron Green made an important 46 off 108 balls and his partnership with Steve Smith worth 61 was crucial with Smith scoring 48 off 66 balls. Green’s dismissal triggered a collapse in the final session of Day 1.
Travis Head scored 20 off 53 balls while Beau Webster missed out. Alex Carey counter-attacked with his 21 off 20 balls and same was the case with Pat Cummins who scored 24 off 17 balls. Australia were 157/3 at one stage and collapsed to 225 all out in 70.3 overs. 16 extras given by the fielding side.
Shamar Joseph was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies with figures of 4/33 in 17.3 overs. He was ably supported by Jayden Seales who finished with 3/59 in 16 overs. Justin Greaves stepped upto the plate and picked up 3/56 in 14 overs.
Scott Boland decimates West Indies & keeps them down to 143
In reply, West Indies tried to battle hard, but no one really got going, and they suffered a collapse in the second session of Day 2, losing 7 wickets to be bundled out and hand Australia a big first innings lead. Brandon King made 14 off 42 balls. Roston Chase, the captain, battled his way to 18 off 71 balls. John Campbell top-scored with 36 off 65 balls. Shai Hope looked good for his 23 off 35 balls while Justin Greaves looked decent for his 18 off 31 balls.
West Indies went from 82/3 at one stage to be bowled out for 143 in 52.1 overs and handing a more than handy 82-run first innings lead to Australia. 10 extras given by the fielding side.
It was a disciplined all-round bowling display by Australia with Scott Boland leading the way with figures of 3/34 in 13.1 overs. He was ably supported by his captain Pat Cummins who finished with 2/24 in 11 overs. Josh Hazlewood bowled well for his 2/32 in 10 overs. Mitchell Starc in his 100th Test chipped in with 1/32 in 13 overs. Beau Webster also got a wicket in his 1/15 in 5 overs.
Alzarri and Shamar Joseph wreak havoc to bundle Australia out for 121.
With a lead of 82 runs, Australia lost wickets at regular intervals in their second innings. Sam Konstas went without scoring while his opening partner, Usman Khawaja, went for 14 off 21 balls. Cameron Green batting at 3 held one end up and scored an invaluable 42 off 66 balls. Steve Smith had a rare low score while Travis Head made 16 off 24 balls, while Beau Webster chipped in with 13 off 18 balls. Mitchell Starc remained 11* off 26 balls in the end.
Australia had two collapses with them being reduced to 69/6 on Day 2 while on Day 3 they started their innings at 99/6 and lost their last 4 wickets for 22 runs to be bowled out for 121 in 37 overs. 10 extras given by the fielding team.
Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5/27 in 12 overs while he was ably supported by Shamar Joseph who finished with figures of 4/34 in 13 overs. Justin Greaves chipped in with 1/19 in 4 overs. Shamar in the end had 8 wickets in the match. This meant West Indies had a target of 204 to win in the 4th innings which looked highly improbable and unlikely at this stage.
Mitchell Starc six-fer and Scott Boland’s hat-trick sinks West Indies to new low.
Chasing 204 for the win, West Indies lost wickets like a pack of cards. Mitchell Starc was breathing fire as he got John Campbell, Kevlon Anderson, and Brandon King in the first over to leave the hosts at 0/3. Later he got Mikyle Louis and keeper batter Shai Hope to leave the hosts reeling at 7/5 in 4.3 overs and completing his 5-wicket haul in no time. Roston Chase too fell for a duck as Josh Hazlewood joined in the party. West Indies were 11/6 in 5.2 overs.
There was brief resistance by Justin Greaves and Alzarri Joseph as they stopped the mayhem and took the team to 22/6 in 10 overs when the Tea Break arrived. But it was a matter of time as Scott Boland was introduced into the attack to speed up the game and wrap it up.
Boland got rid of Justin Greaves, Shamar Joseph, and Jomel Warrican at the start of the 14th over to complete a hat-trick which was his first and the 10th Australian to achieve the feat. Mitchell Starc finished things off with his 6th wicket as Seales was knocked over as West Indies were bowled out for 27 in 14.3 overs. The lowest total by them and second lowest in Test cricket. Only Greaves got into double figures and scored 11 off 24 balls. 6 extras given by the fielding side.
Mitchell Starc was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 6/9 in 7.3 overs. He was ably supported by Scott Boland who finished with 3/2 in 2 overs including a hat-trick while Josh Hazlewood got a wicket in his 1/10 in 5 overs. There was no need for Pat Cummins to bowl in this innings. Mitchell Starc was awarded both Player of the Match and Series as Australia won by 176 runs and the series 3-0.
What Lies Ahead
Both Australia and the West Indies will take a breather from red ball cricket and move their focus to white ball cricket. There are 5 T2OIS between the West Indies and Australia. The first of which will be on Monday, 21st July in Jamaica. West Indies will be led by Shai Hope, and Australia to be led by Mitchell Marsh, with Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood sitting out.
Can the West Indies come back and prove their mettle in the format they love? Or will Australia continue their dominance in the shortest format as well? Find out as the T20I series is upon us soon.
Also Read: WI vs AUS: Australia’s Dramatic Collapse Gives West Indies Edge