Below the fading gentle of Sabina Park on Monday, the West Indies suffered probably the most humiliating defeats in Take a look at historical past.
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Chasing 204 for victory within the first day-night Take a look at on the venue, they have been dismantled for simply 27 runs, the second-lowest complete ever recorded in Take a look at cricket.
Australia’s relentless tempo assault wanted a mere 14.3 overs to finish the demolition, securing a powerful 176-run victory and a 3-0 sweep of the Frank Worrell Trophy.
Had it not been for a misfield by 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas, the West Indies would have matched the all-time report low of 26, set by New Zealand in opposition to England in 1955. As an alternative, they narrowly prevented that undesirable piece of historical past.
Starc’s historic burst: 5 wickets in 15 balls
Mitchell Starc led Australia’s destruction with a spell of quick bowling that bordered on the unreal. The tall left-arm fast struck with the very first ball of the innings, eradicating opener John Campbell with a supply that moved late and located the sting, comfortably taken by concussion substitute wicketkeeper Josh Inglis.
From there, Starc unleashed carnage: Kevlon Anderson was trapped lbw. Brandon King was bowled for a golden duck. Mikyle Lewis adopted quickly after for 4. Shai Hope, the final acknowledged batter, was pinned lbw by a thunderbolt that swung viciously.
Inside 15 deliveries, Starc claimed 5 wickets, the quickest five-wicket haul in Take a look at historical past, en path to sensational figures of 6 for 9. It was additionally his fifteenth five-wicket haul in Exams and a becoming follow-up to claiming his four-hundredth profession wicket in his a hundredth Take a look at match earlier within the collection.
“It’s been a incredible collection,” Starc stated with a smile. “We noticed final evening how robust batting could be with the arduous pink ball underneath lights. We didn’t suppose it might occur this shortly right this moment, till the solar went down a bit. It’s been very fulfilling, and I’ll go dwelling with a smile on my face.”
Boland’s hat-trick seals the rout
Whereas Starc was the chief destroyer, Scott Boland offered the coup de grâce with a Take a look at hat-trick—Australia’s tenth in historical past.
Boland dismissed Justin Greaves, Shamar Joseph, and Jomel Warrican in successive deliveries, decreasing the West Indies to rubble. He completed with scarcely plausible figures of three wickets for two runs.
The collapse was so swift that by the sixth over the West Indies have been 11 for six, teetering getting ready to the bottom Take a look at complete in historical past. Excluding extras, the highest six batters collectively managed simply six runs. Solely 4 gamers in the whole lineup troubled the scorers.
A misfield saves a report—barely
By the dinner break, the rating limped to 22 for six, courtesy of two dropped probabilities within the slips off Starc. Then got here the second of reprieve for West Indies cricket’s report books: a easy misfield from Konstas within the deep gifted a single, pushing the rating to 27—one run higher than the bottom Take a look at complete in historical past.
Nevertheless it was solely a brief keep of execution. Starc returned to wash up Jayden Searles with a searing full supply, ending the innings and the match earlier than the lights absolutely took maintain.
From hope to heartbreak
Earlier within the day, West Indies’ bowlers had fought valiantly. Alzarri Joseph produced a spirited effort, taking 5 for 27 as Australia have been bowled out for 121 of their second innings, setting a manageable goal of 204.
Australia, resuming on 99 for six, added simply 22 extra runs as Cameron Inexperienced fell to the primary ball of Day 3, and the decrease order folded shortly.
However any hope for the West Indies evaporated inside minutes of their reply. The batting lineup merely failed to resist the pink ball’s motion underneath fading daylight.
Australia’s dominance and West Indies’ despair
This crushing defeat capped a collection dominated by Australia’s bowlers, who gained the primary Take a look at in Barbados by 159 runs, the second in Grenada by 133 runs, and the finale in Jamaica by 176 runs.
For the West Indies, the 27-run debacle is their lowest ever Take a look at complete, surpassing the notorious 47 in opposition to England on the similar floor in 2004. For Australia, it was a showcase of precision, ability, and ruthless effectivity underneath lights.
Because the Frank Worrell Trophy returns to Australian arms, the West Indies are left looking for solutions to a batting disaster that continues to deepen.
