SYDNEY: Australia defeated the West Indies by just 27 runs on the third day of the third Test to win by 176 runs and complete a 3–0 whitewash in the series in extraordinary fashion.
The second-lowest innings in Test cricket history after 47 all out against England in 2004 and the West Indies’ worst innings finish. It was marginally better than New Zealand‘s record of 26 runs in 1955.
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc was the architect of the havoc, taking 6 for 9 in a devastating spell that included five wickets in just 15 balls. The performance, which came in his 100th Test, saw him cross 400 career wickets, becoming only the fourth Australian to reach the milestone, along with Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, and Nathan Lyon.
Scott Boland added to the carnage with a hat-trick that effectively ended any hopes the West Indies had of saving the match.
Australia fell after a narrow lead
Australia had resumed their second innings at 99 for 6 in the light of the pink-ball Test but could only manage 121 thanks to a quick spell of 5-27 from Alzarri Joseph. Set a target of 204 for victory, the West Indies failed to withstand intense pressure and opposition bowling.
Starc set the tone immediately, dismissing Kevin Anderson and Brandon King in the same over before dismissing John Campbell with the first ball of the innings, all three falling without scoring a run.
By the end of Starc’s third over, the hosts were 7 for 5. Josh Hazlewood then trapped Roston Chase for no loss, before Boland clinically dismissed Justin Greaves (11), Shimer Joseph and Jomal Warrick in successive balls.
A brief moment of recovery came through a misfield that took a single to take the score to 26. But Starc came back clean bowled by Jayden Sales, who ended the innings on 27 and sealed a humiliating defeat for the hosts.
Reaction from both camps
“It’s heartbreaking,” said West Indies captain Roston Chase. “We felt we were in the game after getting them out cheaply, but our batting let us down again – it’s a recurring theme and it makes it hard to take.”
Reflecting on the milestone and the match, Starc said: “It’s been a fantastic few days – getting to 400 wickets and wrapping up a strong series is something I’ll cherish. The whole bowling unit is on it.”
The two sides will now switch formats, with the five-match T20I series starting in Jamaica on July 21.
