West Indies’ new pace sensation, Shamar Joseph made an instant impact on the tour of Australia after picking a five-wicket haul in the first Test in Adelaide. However, the West Indies couldn’t win the Test.
Criticism followed and the young West Indies fought their hearts out in the second Test match. While batting first, West Indies posted a challenging score of 311 runs in the first innings. Australia would now be wondering why did they declared at 289 in the second innings as they would have got some extra runs.
Nevertheless, they bowled out West Indies for just 289 runs when they came out to bat again. On day 3 during that innings, Mitchell Starc’s toe-crushing yorker left Shamar Joseph in tears. The ball had hit right on the front of his right toe.
The Heroics of Shamar Joseph
Shamar winced in pain and couldn’t walk without any assistance. He walked off the pitch and it was believed that he was ruled out for the rest of the game. Nevertheless, West Indies set a target of 216 for Australia to win the Test match.
The hosts were cruising at 2-113 in pursuit of a 216-run target. In came Shamarh Joseph late in the first session, and the match, once again, came alive. Joseph broke the crucial third-wicket partnership by rattling the stumps of Cameron Green, who was batting on 42 off 73. On the very next ball, he accounted for Travis Head’s wicket to swing the momentum completely.
Mitchell Marsh didn’t last long either, while Alex Carey was Joseph’s fourth scalp. In a six-over spell that cost 45 runs, Joseph had picked four wickets and turned the game on its head.
He went on to complete a five-for by sending Mitchell Starc back to the hut (21). Amidst all the chaos, Steve Smith was fighting a lone battle at the other end and took the Australian team closer to the target.
But Shamar Joseph looked unstoppable. He then accounted for the wickets of Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon to leave Australia with just one 1 wicket left. With 9 runs needed to win and one wicket left, Shamar Joseph bowled a peach of a delivery to rattle Josh Hazlewood’s stumps.
Steve Smith’s 91-run knock Ended in Unfortunate Loss
History was created right there! West Indies breached the Gabba and won a Test match in Australia after 30 years. Sadly, Steve Smith, who was standing at the other end, was left stranded at the other end. He played a fighting unbeaten knock of 91 off 146 but it went in vain.
West Indies’s Shamar Joseph returned with outstanding bowling figures of 7 for 68 in 11.5 overs. He will be remembered as one to help West Indies win a historic Test against Australia on their home turf and help them mark a presence in the World Test Championship Points Table.
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