Sports
AN EMBARRASSING DEFEAT BY THE WEST INDIES
by David Harris
The West Indies suffered an embarrassing 176-run defeat at the hands Australia, the second lowest total in the history of Test cricket on day three of the third Test at Sabina Park, Jamaica on Monday.
Chasing 204 runs victory, the scored a humiliating 27 runs in 14.3 overs the second lowest total in the history of Test cricket, after an amazing spell of fast bowling by left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc in his 100th Test match.
Starc took the wickets of John Campbell, Kevlon Anderson, and Brandon King for ducks in the first over of the West Indies’ second innings; with three batsmen in the pavilion and no runs on the scoreboard the West Indies were in deep trouble, but Starc was not done.
He trapped Mikyle Louis lbw to reach 400 Test wickets; two balls later –Starc dismissed Shai Hope to leave the West Indies tottering at seven runs for five wickets in the fifth over.
When the captain Roston Chase was dismissed without scoring by Josh Hazlewood; in the sixth over, the score was 11 runs for six wickets, and the regional team was in danger of being bowled out under 26 runs; the lowest total in Test cricket made by New Zealand against England in 1955.
Justin Greaves (11) and Alzarri Joseph four not out took the score to 26, before seamer Scott Boland picked up a hat-trick with the wickets of Greaves, Shamar Joseph, and Jomel Warrican in the 13th over.
A misfield by Sam Konstas allowed the West Indies to sneak a single and avoid the shame of sharing the record for lowest total in Test cricket with New Zealand, but Starc bowled Jayden Seale with the next ball, to end the day/night match before the lights had a chance to come on.
Starc, the Player of the Match, finished with the remarkable figures of six wickets for nine runs from seven overs and three balls, while Boland took three wickets for two runs in three overs.
It was the worst display of batting by a West Indies team in a Test match Greave top-scored with 11 runs, and six batsmen made ducks in the innings.
Earlier, the Australians were dismissed for 121 runs, after starting the day on 94 for six wickets, Alzarri Joseph captured five wickets for 27 runs, and Shamar Joseph picked up four wickets for 34 runs.
The two teams will now turn their attention to the T201 series which bowls off at Sabina Park, starting on Sunday.
