West Indies 311 and 193 beat Australia 289 for nine dec and 207 (Smith 91*, Green 42, S Joseph seven-68) by eight runs
By Shiva Beharry (AZP News student intern)
SHAMAR Joseph’s debut series is one for him to remember. He helped West Indies beat Australia in a test match for the first time since 2003 on Sunday at Brisbane.
It was also the first time that the Caribbean beat Australia in Australia in a test since 1997 and the first time the side Down Under lost a test at home since 2021.
It was also the first time since February 2023 that West Indies posted 300 or more runs in a single test innings.
After West Indies lost the first test match by ten wickets on the third day, it would take something special to win the next and final match—something like a seven-wicket haul from Joseph.
Joshua Da Silva leads the way
The second match started with West Indies winning the toss and electing to bat. They were off to a shaky start, being five wickets down before reaching the century mark, losing Kraigg Brathwaite, Tangerine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze and Justin Greaves.
However, a 149-run stand between Joshua Da Silva and Kavim Hodge steadied the ship for West Indies. Both reached half-centuries and got into the 70s with Da Silva top-scoring on 79 runs.
After Hodge and Alzarri Joseph got out, the tail wagged, making 45 for the loss of the last two wickets. Mitchell Starc took four for 82 with Josh Hazelwood and Nathan Lyon both taking two and Aussie captain Pat Cummings picking up a solitary scalp.
Usman Khawaja Fights Back
In their first innings, Australia were in trouble from the get-go, being four down for 24 at the end of the fifth over. Things only got worse when Mitchell Marsh was gone with the score on 54. This brought Alex Carey to the crease who with Usman Khawaja put on a 96-run stand before Alex Carey was caught by Chanderpaul off Shamar Joseph’s bowling.
Starc then went cheaply with the score on seven for 161. However, a partnership of 81 between Khawaja and Cummings saw Australia well into the 200s when Khawaja went back to the pavilion. A final stand on 47 saw Australia finish on 289 for nine declared with Josh Hazelwood not batting. The Aussies were still trailing by 22 runs when they declared and this raised a few eyebrows from Australian fans.
Alzarri Joseph took four for 84 with Kemar Roach also getting a three-for and Shamar Joseph and Kevin Sinclair got one apiece.
Australia keep the game alive
West Indies lost opening batsman Chanderpaul for four with the score on one for 15. West Indies skipper, Brathwaite, could only manage 16 before walking back.
Top scorer McKenzie could manage only 41 before being trapped LBW by Lyon.
Athanaze and Greaves would both make 30s and a 29 from Hodge would see West Indies on 148 for five. Da Silva could only manage seven putting West Indies on 157 for six.
After the fall of Justin Greaves when the score was 184 for eight. West Indies could only manage nine more with Shamar Joseph retiring hurt. Three-fors from Lyon and Hazelwood restricted West Indies to 193 and gave Australia 216 for victory.
Shamar Joseph runs rampant
With top-scorer from the last inning, Khawaja making ten and Marcus Labuschagne gone for five Australia were two for 42. A 71-run partnership between Smith and Cameron Green put Australia in a commanding 113 for three when Shamar Joseph bowled Green. Travis Head came to the wicket and was bowled by Joseph for a golden duck giving him his second of seven wickets in the innings. Mitchell Marsh could only manage ten and Alex Carey made two with the score on six for 136. The Australians were in a spot of bother.
A 35-run partnership between Starc and Smith appeared to put Australia firmly in charge. However, Shamar Joseph, who just 18 months ago was a security guard in Guyana, had other plans. He got Cummings for two and gave the Australians 29 runs to make for the last two wickets going into dinner.
After dinner, Joseph got Lyon for nine and at the score on 191 for 9. One wicket to go for West Indies. Tension high. Australians breathed a sigh of relief when Smith hit a six off Alzarri Joseph in the 50th over putting Australia on 202 for nine.
Disaster would strike for the Australians in the very next over when Joseph bowled Jos Hazelwood with the score on 206 all out. Giving West Indies Victory by eight runs and tying the series at one-one.
This was a historic victory for the West Indies, started by Da Silva’s 79 and finished with Shamar Joseph’s seven wicket haul.
Man of the series was no surprise – Shamar Joseph for his 13 wickets and 57 runs across the two test match series.
