- Joseph secures West Indies win
- Takes seven wickets at Gabba
- Heroic despite toe injury
In a breathtakingly dramatic final, Shamar Joseph took seven wickets as Australia faltered at the Gabba, allowing the West Indies to secure their first Test victory in Australia in 27 years. A mere eight runs decided the victory.
On Sunday in Brisbane, in front of a mere 3,162 spectators, the hosts were cruising at 2-113. This was in the first session of the fourth day, chasing 216 to secure a 2-0 series victory.
Shamar Joseph (7-68), who had been sidelined with a toe injury caused by a Mitchell Starc yorker the previous evening, then unsealed the Test by claiming six wickets in an astounding 10-over span.
As the second Test opener, Steve Smith (91 not out) set out on a daring rescue mission. However, Joseph did not yield, securing his seventh wicket with a flyer of Josh Hazlewood’s stumps and rushing towards the boundary in sensational scenes as the series was leveled 1-1.
Joseph’s Dominant Bowling Spree
Joseph, reaching a peak speed of approximately 150 km/h, brought vitality to an old pink ball that had previously posed little difficulty for the Australian batters. The implosion was initiated when he bowled Cameron Green (42) and Travis Head with consecutive deliveries.
Head’s third consecutive golden duck made him the seventh Australian to score a king pair at the Gabba. Mitchell Marsh (10) was dismissed shortly after Smith survived the hat-trick ball. Whereas Alex Carey (two) fell victim to Joseph’s fourth during a tumultuous six-over spell that cost 45 runs.
However, Joseph was not finished; Starc (21 off 14) took his fifth wicket within seven overs to conclude the Australian quick’s brief cameo, which included four boundaries.
Ten minutes before the tea break, Australia still needed 45 runs to prevail when captain Pat Cummins, who scored an unbeaten 64 in the first innings before being dismissed 22 short of the West Indies’ 311 in the first innings, strode to the batsman. Nathan Lyon survived until the interval, having been trapped behind for only three, with Australia needing 29 runs to complete a 5-0 summer sweep.
Joseph’s Heroic Performance Inspires Victory
Lyon was dismissed in the first over following the resumption of play. However, Smith persisted in the counterattack by rampaging in a sensational six as the target entered single figures. He continually exposed Hazlewood, and Joseph finished an amazing solo with another stump clatter.
Joseph, forced to retire on Saturday night due to injury, initially believed it would be challenging to be present at the pitch until he spoke with the team physician. Joseph stated, “He did something to my toe; I have no idea what he did.” “I believe we have secured the series victory despite the current score of 1-1. Already, my five-wicket haul had me in tears… “I’m not exhausted; I promised my captain I would bowl until the last wicket fell today.”
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Brian Lara and Carl Hooper called him “a champion” in the ABC commentary box while crying. “Shamar Joseph has ignited the cricket scene in the West Indies.” “Being a West Indian is an incredible sensation,” Lara remarked afterward.
“You are a champion.” “He did not even exist on the scene eighteen months ago,” Lara exclaimed on Fox Cricket.
The Guyanan staggered on the pitch as his toe injury showed, but he persisted. Joseph, who had bowled ten consecutive overs before tea, returned after the break and executed the decisive blow against Josh Hazlewood with an imperious delivery.
