West Indies and Australia clashed against each other at the Gabba in an epic Test match which ended with West Indies winning the match against Australia. It was the first win for the Windies in a day-night Test. Australian skipper Pat Cummins was confident while heading into day four of the Gabba Test as the Aussies needed 156 runs to win the match with eight wickets in hand while chasing a meager 216. However, Shamar Joseph had other plans and his inspirational spell turned the match for West Indies.
Shamar Joseph bowled a long spell of 11.5 overs unchanged despite an injured toe which he got while batting on Saturday and finished with figures of 7 for 68 in what was the second Test of his career. West Indies managed to level the two-match Test series 1-1. Pat Cummins was disappointed with the defeat but lauded Shamar Joseph for a wonderful performance.
“There is disappointment after a loss [but] that was a fantastic Test match and a fantastic series,” Cummins said at the presentation. “In particular, Shamar, the way he bowled today. He was right up for it and unfortunately, we were not good enough.
“We were confident coming today. Our efforts yesterday were really good, to have a very low total. [A target of] 200-odd was achievable. [West Indies] had different ideas and bowled beautifully and unfortunately [it was] just a bridge too far.”
West Indies Registered A Win vs Pat Cummins &. Co On The Australian Soil After 27 Years
This was the first win for the Windies on Australian soil after 27 years and was also their first triumph with the pink ball. West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first on the Gabba.
They were bundled for 311 in the first innings laying on the back of half-centuries by Kevin Sinclair, Kavem Hodge, and Joshua Da Silva. Australia, in reply, scored 289/9 and declared the innings with Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, and Pat Cummins scoring their half-centuries. West Indies were bundled for 193 in the second innings giving a 216-run target to Australia which looked achievable.
Steve Smith who had his first Test series opening the batting for Australia stayed unbeaten on 91 as wickets fell at the other end. He had scores of 12, 11 not out, and 6 in his first three innings as Australia’s Test opener.
However, the hosts hoped that he might be able to pull this off as he was unbeaten on 33 overnight. He tried taking Australia all the way and when they were 20 away with just one wicket in hand, he played an audacious scoop off Alzarri Joseph for a six over fine leg. But with nine more to get, Shamar Joseph flattened Josh Hazlewood’s off stump to complete the dramatic win.
West Indies is only the second team to breach the Gabba fortress in the last 35 years. India defeated Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane during the Border-Gavaskar trophy in 2020-21. Now West Indies have done it in a special win against Australia which saw them reignite in the red-ball format. West Indies will now face Australia in a three-match ODI series starting on February 2 in Melbourne.
