Josh Hazlewood ran through the West Indies’ top order with a superb spell of fast bowling to lead Australia to a stunning 159-run victory over the home side on the third day of the opening Test match here at Kensington Oval Friday.
Hazelwood grabbed 5-43, his 13th five-wicket haul in Tests, as the West Indies, chasing 300 runs for victory, were skittled out for 141 late in the evening.
It was a sensational turnaround to a match that was locked in the balance at the start of the day.
Resuming the day on 92 for four – an overall lead of 82 – Australia took control of the match with a strong batting effort that saw Travis Head, Beau Webster and Alex Carey score half centuries to propel them to 310 in their second innings.
West Indies were let down by their fielding once again, with Justin Greaves putting down a straightforward chance at second slip to get rid of Head off the bowling of Alzarri Joseph, after he had added just eight runs to his overnight 13.
It was an opportunity they would live to regret, as Head and Webster combined for a 102-run partnership that licked the wind out of their sails.
Player-of-the-Match Head brought up his second 50 of the match and 19th Test half century by driving medium pacer Justin Greaves through extra cover for four as Australia cruised past the 150-run mark.
He then hit pacer Shamar Joseph for two boundaries in the 53rd over, but lost his wicket just before the lunch break when he was outdone by a delivery that kept low from Shamar Joseph to be lbw for 61.
The Aussies went to lunch on 181 for five and immediately after the lunch break Webster guided Jayden Seales to the third man boundary for four to bring up his 50.
He added 41 with Alex Carey before he was caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Shai Hope off the bowling of Shamar Joseph for 63 to leave the score 208 for six.
Following his dismissal, Carey imposed his dominance in a counter-attacking innings of 65 from 75 deliveries with seven fours and two sixes.
He received good support from Mitchell Starc (16), Josh Hazlewood (12) and Nathan Lyon who scored an unbeaten 13.
Shamar Joseph cleaned up the tail to pick up his fourth five-wicket haul of 5-87, to finish with match figures of 9-133.
Set a challenging 300 runs for victory on a deteriorating pitch, West Indies lost opener Kraigg Brathwaite cheaply for just four.
Keacy Carty joined John Campbell, and the two carried their side to a comfortable position of 47 for one, until Hazlewood set about destroying the innings.
He began by having Campbell caught behind by wicket keeper Carey attempting a paddle shot, and with his very next delivery he had Brandon King caught at gully off an inside edge that ricocheted off his pad, to leave the score 47 for three.
Roston Chase prevented the hat-trick, but he was dismissed in similar fashion by Hazlewood two runs later, this time inside edging a delivery off his pads to short leg where Sam Konstas took an easy catch.
Hazlewood wasn’t done just yet, returning to rattle Carty’s stumps with an inswinger that kept low, and when Pat Cummins bowled Shai Hope with a ball that never got up, West Indies had slumped to 61 for six.
Alzarri Joseph was then run out without troubling the score and Jomel Warrican could only edge Hazlewood behind to give him his fifth wicket.
It took an entertaining knock of 44 from Shamar Joseph off just 22 balls to excite the home fans, as he played some superb shots that included four fours and four sixes.
He added 55 runs with Justin Greaves for the ninth wicket, but once he was dismissed by Nathan Lyon, the end came swiftly with Jayden Seales also falling to Lyon first ball. (CMC)
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