West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph on Sunday propelled his team to a surprising eight-run win over Australia on Sunday in Brisbane.
Joseph took six wickets in one session and finishing with impressive figures of 7-68.
This excellent performance gave West Indies their first test win in Australia since 1997, as Australia struggled and was eventually bowled out for 207, chasing a target of 216.
Australia’s new opener, Steve Smith, fought hard with an unbeaten 91. However, despite his efforts, Joseph’s delivery shattered the stumps of Josh Hazlewood (0), securing the win for West Indies and sparking celebrations among the team at the Gabba.
In the earlier part of the match, Australian captain Pat Cummins made a bold decision by declaring at 289-9, even though they were still behind West Indies’ first innings total of 311.
The series, which started with Australia winning the first test in Adelaide by 10 wickets, ended in a 1-1 draw.
Joseph, who had to go for hospital scans after leaving the field early the day before when he was hit on toe by Starc, made a remarkable recovery on day four.
His energetic performance led to the dismissals of Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Alex Carey, playing a significant role in West Indies’ comeback.
In the second innings, Australia’s pursuit of 216 saw Steve Smith scoring runs, while Mitchell Starc chose an aggressive approach. However, Joseph’s determined 11-over spell, taking six crucial wickets, left the hosts struggling at 187-8 during the break.
Despite Smith’s late efforts, Australia fell just short, making for an exciting match with ups and downs for both teams.
The match also highlighted some tough breaks for West Indies, like Joseph’s near-dismissal of Alex Carey and his injury keeping him out on day three.
Despite these challenges, West Indies, with four debutantes in the series, showed resilience and determination in securing this historic victory.
