Day 3 of the Jamaica Pink Ball Test saw wickets fall in a heap and the Test match finishing quickly. Mitchell Starc completed a quickfire 6-wicket haul while Scott Boland completed a hat-trick as Australia bowled West Indies out for 27, which is the second lowest score in Test cricket to win by 176 runs. Australia started the day at 99/6 and lost their last 4 wickets for 22 runs to be bowled out for 121 with Alzarri Joseph picking up 5 wickets and Shamar Joseph picking up 4 wickets.
Tasked with chasing 204 for an improbable win, West Indies imploded massively to be 7/5 at one stage before being bowled out for 27 in 14.3 overs. Mitchell Starc picked up 6/9 in 7.3 overs while Scott Boland picked up 3/2 in 2 overs which included a hat-trick. There was one wicket also to Hazlewood as the Test match was wrapped up 30 minutes into the second session of play.
Alzarri Joseph & Shamar Joseph wipe out Aussie tail
It was an action-packed first session to start the proceedings in terms of wickets falling. Shamar Joseph began with a bang as he cleaned up Cameron Green for his overnight score of 42. It was a good length delivery nipping back in from the fourth stump line as Green shouldered arm, and the ball hit the top of the off-stump. That brought Mitchell Starc in, who got 4 leg byes to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Alzarri Joseph soon got into the wicket-taking act, dismissing Pat Cummins, the captain, for 5 off 32 balls. Alzarri banged in short around leg into the wicket getting extra bounce, Cummins looked to block it to the leg side and the ball hit the splice of the blade and was taken by Kevlon Anderson at short leg.
Scott Boland came in to join Starc as both played it carefully. Starc played his shots from time to time, but soon Shamar got rid of Boland for 1. It was a toe-crushing yorker full and straight at the stumps. Boland looked to flick it away without footwork and missed it completely. The ball crashed into the base of the middle stump.
Josh Hazlewood came and got a boundary away to take Australia’s lead past 200. Soon, Alzarri had his 5-wicket haul as he knocked Hazlewood over for 4. Good length delivery around middle stump line pitched in and jagged away from the batter. Hazlewood looked to defend it straight and got beaten on the outside edge as the ball rattled the stumps. Australia were bowled out for 121. 10 extras given by the West Indies bowlers. The lead was 203.
Alzarri Joseph was the star with the ball with figures of 5/27 in 12 overs. He was ably supported by Shamar Joseph, who finished with 4/34 in 13 overs. Justin Greaves picked up a wicket in his 1/19 in 4 overs. It meant the target for the West Indies was an improbable 204 for the win.
Mitchell Starc creates havoc in the West Indies’ batting unit
West Indies got off to the worst possible start as Mitchell Starc was breathing fire and got rid of John Campbell first ball of the innings. It was a peach of a delivery, angling in after pitching and swinging away from the batter. Campbell looked to play the on-drive and got the outside edge, and Inglis, the concussion substitute keeper, did the rest as Aussies were cocker-hoop. Starc did not stop there as he got rid of Kevlon Anderson a few balls later for a duck. Anderson did not offer a shot to an inswinger, and it was stone dead. Anderson burned a review as well.
The next ball, he got rid of Brandon King for a golden duck. Bowled the inswinger to King, who tried to press forward and played the wrong line. His front foot was around the leg stump, and a big gap between bat and pad meant the ball crashed into the stumps. The West Indies were reduced to 0/3 after the first over.
Louis got a streaky boundary away off Hazlewood. But the West Indies were on the back foot. Roston Chase was hit on the box by Hazlewood as the physio came and treated him. Starc soon got his 4th and 400th wicket in Test cricket by getting rid of Mikyle Louis for 4, trapping him right in front. The fuller length around off-stump nipping back into the batter, Louis looks to prod low to fend it away and gets hit on the back pad in front of the off-stump. The finger went up, and no need for a review.
Starc soon completed a five-wicket haul in just 3.3 overs of his bowling by getting rid of Shai Hope for 2. Another fuller length delivery on the off-stump line, Hope is in his crease looking to flick it away but misses. He gets pinned on the knee roll right in front. Hope reviewed and saw Three Reds as West Indies were reduced to 7/5 in 4.3 overs and all 5 to Mitchell Starc.
Justin Greaves came and hit a boundary off Starc to get off the mark. Soon, it was Josh Hazlewood’s turn to join the party as he dismissed West Indies captain Roston Chase for a duck. It was a nothing shot from the captain as he looked to drive a good length delivery well outside off with a hint of shape away and gets a faint edge to the keeper who makes no mistake. West Indies were down on their knees at 11/6 in 5.2 overs at this stage.
Alzarri Joseph came in to join Greaves in an attempt to stop this mayhem. Starc could have gotten another, but Konstas put a catch down diving at fourth slip as Alzarri got a reprieve. Greaves got a boundary away off Hazlewood. Starc was not giving anything away. Soon, after 10 overs, Tea Time arrived to give all of us a breather as West Indies went to the Tea Break at 22/6 in 10 overs. Justin Greaves was batting on 10* off 18 balls alongside Alzarri Joseph, who was on 0* off 13 balls.
Scott Boland hat-trick headlines Aussie Dominance & sweeps seriesÂ
Greaves and Alzarri Joseph walked out to bat after the break, knowing very well that it could be a matter of time before this one is done and dusted. They negotiated the initial overs well, although Joseph got another life from Sam Konstas as Mitchell Starc was the unlucky bowler. This was a dolly at the fourth slip. But the introduction of Scott Boland changed everything, and he made history in only his second over that he was bowling.
He first ended Justin Greaves’ resistance, nipping him for 11 off 24 balls. Short of a length angling in from over the wicket, Greaves looked to defend and got squared up to get the outside edge through to Beau Webster at second slip, who made no mistake. The very next ball, he got Shamar Joseph LBW on review as it was given NOT OUT as Australia reviewed successfully. Golden duck for Shamar, and then in the hat-trick ball he knocked over Jomel Warrican for a golden duck. It was a length delivery outside off seaming in, Warrican tried to defend but the ball went past the inside edge to rattle the stumps. West Indies were 26/9 in 13.3 overs.
Boland became the 10th Australian to get a hat-trick and 2nd Victorian after Peter Siddle to achieve the feat. Jayden Seales came and survived the over. But the winning moment soon came, and it was fitting that Mitchell Starc finished things off for Australia. Starc knocked over Seales for another duck as the full-length angling into the stumps worked. Seales looked to drive it straight but got an inside edge back onto the stumps as Starc finished with 6/9 in his 100th Test match. West Indies rolled over for 27 in 14.3 overs. 6 extras contributed to the 27.
Mitchell Starc was by far the pick of the bowlers with figures of 6/9 in 7.3 overs, which included 4 maidens as well. Scott Boland picked up a hat-trick and became the 10th Australian to achieve the feat as he finished with 3/2 in 2 overs. Josh Hazlewood finished with 1/10 in 5 overs while captain Pat Cummins was not required to bowl. Australia won the game by 176 runs and whitewashed the series 3-0. Mitchell Starc was awarded both Player of the Match and Series.
What Lies Ahead
Australia is flying high and would like to continue its dominance in Test Cricket in the future, while the West Indies’ future in Test cricket looks bleak. The bowling is sorted but batting left a lot to be desired, and they must fix those gaping holes. They play Test cricket after 4 months and Australia also has a break from Test cricket for now.
Both teams will now be in action in a 5-match T20I series starting on 21st July. There will be changes on both sides, and the West Indies will hope to give a better fight in the shortest format of the game. The likes of Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood are taking a breather from these matches. Mitchell Marsh will lead Australia, while Shai Hope will lead West Indies. Let’s see what these matches have in store for us.
Also Read:Â WI vs AUS: Scott Boland Helps Australia Gain First Innings Lead Before West Indies Fightback