Josh Hazlewood excelled for Australia, taking 5 wickets for 43 runs, as the West Indies lost all 10 wickets during the final session of Day 3, resulting in a defeat by 159 runs in the first Test. Nathan Lyon secured the last two wickets with consecutive deliveries in what was poised to be the final over of the day, concluding a commanding victory with two days remaining. Australia now holds a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Josh Hazelwood's magical spell against West Indies
Set at 301 to win, the West Indies displayed early resilience. Despite losing Kraigg Brathwaite in the opening over to Mitchell Starc, who caught him with a flick to backward square leg, they managed to reach 47 for 1, thanks to some daring batting from John Campbell and Keacy Carty, the latter of whom was dropped by Cameron Green when he had only scored 1. However, a collapse soon ensued.
Both established batters were dismissed in consecutive deliveries. Campbell tried to execute a scoop off Hazlewood but ended up gloving it to Carey. Brandon King then edged the ball onto his pad, resulting in a sharp catch to gully. Hazlewood quickly dismissed West Indies captain Roston Chase in a similar manner before delivering a full ball that bowled Carty, leaving the West Indies struggling at 56 for 5.
Shai Hope fell victim to a delivery from Pat Cummins that kept low and slipped under his bat. Justin Greaves was then joined by Shamar Joseph, who launched two sixes out of the stadium in a quickfire 22-ball 44, managing to survive a dropped catch by Sam Konstas in the deep during his innings.
At seven down, with time running out, Australia took the extra 30 minutes. Marnus Labuschagne, on the field as a substitute, produced a direct-hit run out to remove Alzarri Joseph before Hazlewood dismissed Jomel Warrican with a thick edge to slip to complete his five-for. Lyon then wrapped things up in fading light by getting Shamar to edge to slip and getting Jayden Seales caught at short leg to bring the innings to a close on 141.
Australia's batting gets it par 300
Earlier in the day, Australia had built a strong second-innings total of 310 after starting on 92 for 4. Travis Head, given a reprieve on 21 when Greaves spilled a sharp chance at second slip, went on to score a composed 61, his second fifty of the game which earned him the Player of the Match award. His stand of 102 with Beau Webster set Australia up for a big total on a tough pitch.
The stand was broken when Head got a brute from Shamar that barely bounced and crashed into the stumps. Webster followed him to the pavilion after lunch, glancing Joseph down the leg side after reaching 63. Alex Carey, though, took the game further away from West Indies with a 75-ball 65.
Shamar, who had missed a five-wicket haul in the first innings thanks to a dropped catch, returned figures of 5 for 87 but the effort proved too little too late.
SCORECARD: Australia 180 (Head 59; Seales 5-60) & 310 (Carey 65; Joseph 5-87) beat West Indies 190 (Hope 48; Starc 3-65) & 141 (Joseph 44; Hazlewood 5-43) by 159 runs
