BRISBANE, Australia – Rookie fast bowler Shamar Joseph grabbed an astonishing seven-wicket haul as an inexperienced West Indies defied the odds to stun top-ranked Australia by eight runs in the pink-ball second Test, and claim their first win Down Under in nearly three decades.
Fast bowler Shamar Joseph celebrates a wicket during his sensational seven-wicket haul on Sunday.Bowling with an injured toe sustained but touching speeds of nearly 150 kph, the 24-year-old Joseph produced an amazing spell off seven for 68 from 11.5 tireless consecutive overs, to bowl Australia out for 207 after they began Sunday’s penultimate day at the Gabba on 60 for two in pursuit of 216 for victory.
Opener Steve Smith, unbeaten on 33 at the start, carried his bat to be 91 not out at the end while Cameron Green converted his overnight nine into 42, but Joseph tore through the innings as Australia lost their last eight wickets for 94 runs.
No such drama was envisioned when Smith and Green stretched their third wicket stand to 71 but Joseph’s introduction, three-quarters of an hour into the session, turned the game on its head and left Australia’s run chase in ruins at lunch on 187 for eight.
Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who picked up two for 62, removed Nathan Lyon for nine in the first over after the break after putting down a low return catch off the previous ball.
And Shamar Joseph then uprooted Josh Hazlewood’s off-stump with the final ball of the fourth over, to set off unbridled celebrations among the visiting contingent.
The result marked West Indies’ first Test win on Australian soil since 1997, ending a nightmare run of 15 defeats in 17 Tests and nine series losses. The victory was also their first in a Test over the Aussies in 21 years, and their first in a day-night Test in five attempts.
“I wasn’t even coming to the ground this morning,” said an elated Shamar Joseph.
“Dr [Denis] Byam told me to come to the ground even if it is just to support the guys. I came and he did something to my toe – I don’t know what he did but something worked – but I had the time to go out there and bowl and bring this game home for my team.”
Joseph, one of seven uncapped players in a new-look squad chosen for the tour, was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his sensational spell and Man-of-the-Series for his 13 wickets at just 17 runs apiece.
With the Guyanese having retired hurt the previous evening with a suspected broken toe after being struck by a Mitchell Starc yorker, captain Kraigg Brathwaite said he did not expect to have the player available.
“[I found out he would play] probably an hour before play [started],” Brathwaite said.
“Dr Byam came and said he got an injection and he’s quite good. And then he (Joseph) told me he’s going to do it and I had to back him.
“ He told me today he’s not putting [the ball] down until it’s finished and that’s an example for this team to follow.”
The defeat for Australia was their first in a pink-ball Test, ending a sequence of 11 straight wins.
“Obviously there’s disappointment after a loss but that was a fantastic Test match and a fantastic series,” said Aussie captain Pat Cummins.
“I thought in particular Shamar, the way he bowled today. He was right up for it and unfortunately we weren’t good enough.”
With the seam trio of Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach and Justin Greaves operating at the start, there were little worries for Smith and Green as they safely navigated the opening exchanges.
But once Brathwaite turned to Shamar Joseph, his impact was almost immediate with the right-armer snatching the next six wickets.
He struck in just his second over when he bowled Green with one which jumped off a length to strike the batsman’s elbow before rattling the stumps. And with his very next delivery, he spectacularly yorked Travis Head to send the left-hander back for a ‘king-pair’, only the third Australian to suffer the embarrassing fate.
Mitchell Marsh blasted two fours in 10 before edging to second slip where Alick Athanaze parried the catch to Greaves at third, and Alex Carey (2) lasted only five balls before having his off-stump removed.
Starc counter-attacked in a 14-ball 21, in a 35-run, seventh wicket stand with Smith, who remained unruffled in a knock which lasted 146 balls and a shade over 4-¼ hours, and included nine fours and a six.
Starc played one shot too many and skied to Kevin Sinclair at cover and Cummins made just two before sparring at a sharp, short one and edging behind where wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva snared the chance diving to his right.
Smith and Lyon carried the Aussies to lunch with 29 runs required for victory before the two Josephs combined afterwards to wrap up the innings and end West Indies’ long drought on Australian soil.
The series ended 1-1 after West Indies lost the first Test in Adelaide by 10 wickets.
