Shamar Joseph stuns as Windies beat Aussies by eight runs at Gabba
Shamar Joseph blew Australia’s batting line up away.(Getty Images: Cricket Australia/Chris Hyde)
West Indies rookie Shamar Joseph has torn through Australia’s batting line-up, taking seven wickets to power his team to an enthralling eight-run win at the Gabba.
Australia looked set for a straightforward victory at 2-113, chasing 216 for victory, but Joseph took seven of the last eight wickets in just his second Test match.
Steve Smith remained not out on 91 as Joseph clean bowled Josh Hazlewood to end the innings with 7-68 and end a 27-year victory drought on Australian soil.
Shamar Joseph, only able to play after scans on his injured toe revealed no break after he was forced to retire hurt on day four, starred with the ball.
Cameron Green and Steve Smith seemed set to guide Australia to a comfortable victory, adding 53 runs to the overnight score without alarm.
However, Joseph stunned the Aussies with two wickets in two balls to ignite the tourists and send panic coursing through the Australian line-up.
The 24-year-old Guyanese Test rookie was a touch fortunate to have Green bowled off his elbow, but there was nothing lucky about the ball that clipped Travis Head’s off stump to make the South Australian the first Aussie batter to be dismissed for a king pair in a Test match since Ryan Harris in 2010.
He wasn’t done there, either.
Mitch Marsh (10) edged to slip, where Alick Athanaze fumbled the ball into the hands of Justin Greaves, before Alex Carey (2) was clean bowled.
With Australia’s middle order paralysed by tension, Smith serenely continued, scoring his first half century as an opener and 41st in Test cricket to calm some of the discussion around his suitability for the role.
Mitch Starc came in and blasted a 14-ball 21 to steady the nerves somewhat.
But after a handful of near misses, he was caught by Kevin Sinclair after skying a pull shot.
Pat Cummins (2) could not repeat his first innings heroics, falling to an excellent catch by Joshua da Silva for Joseph’s sixth wicket of the innings, leading to the West Indies being offered an extra 15 minutes before the dinner break.
No wickets fell in that extra four overs, leaving the Australians 29 runs from victory.
Nathan Lyon did not last long after the break, caught behind off the bowling of Alzarri Joseph while attempting a pull shot. That left Smith alone with Josh Hazlewood to try to pick off the remainin runs.
Smith played some remarkable shots, including one back over his head for six, and attempted to manipulate the strike but had no choice but to allow Hazlewood some balls to face.
Shamar Joseph seized on that opportunity, knocking Hazlewood’s off stump out of the ground to complete his incredible day and the West Indies’ win.
(abc.net.au)
