KINGSTON, Jamaica – A valiant effort by West Indies’ bowlers have kept their side with an outside chance of pushing for victory following after another epic batting failure against Australia on the second day of the third Test here on Sunday.
Alzarri Joseph has so far taken three wickets in Australia’s second inningsHaving done well to dismiss the visitors for 225 on the opening day, West Indies were bundled out for just 143 just before dinner on day two at Sabina Park, handing their opponents a valuable 82-run first innings lead.
But led by fast bowlers Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, West Indies produced a sensational effort to reduce Australia to 99 for six in their second innings, an overall lead of 181 runs.
On another action-packed day that saw 16 wickets tumble, the West Indies’ fast bowling trio of the two Josephs along with Jayden Seales was simply too much for Australia to handle, with the exception of Cameron Green.
Needing quick wickets to prevent Australia from running away with the contest, Shamar Joseph gave the home side a dream start when he had Sam Konstas caught at gully by Roston Chase without a run on the board.
Green joined Usman Khawaja and the two added 19 runs before Joseph struck again, this time having the latter bowled off the inside edge as he tried to drive through the offside.
Alzarri Joseph joined the attack and rattled Steven Smith with some short, quick deliveries that brought Sabina Park to life along with memories of the West Indies’ once feared, aggressive style of bowling
That discomfort brought about Smith’s demise, as the bowler trapped him on the back foot with a full delivery that he inside edged onto his pads and into the stumps, to leave Australia 28 for three.
Travis Head was his usual aggressive self, as he tried to take the momentum away from the Windies by going after anything short or wide.
He found the boundary three times in his knock of 16, but was undone by a beauty from medium pacer Justin Greaves that found the outside edge of his bat with Kevlon Anderson taking a good catch low down at second slip, to make it 50 for four.
Beau Webster then lost his off stump to Alzarri Joseph and when Alex Carey, who was stunned by the first ball he faced with a vicious bouncer that crashed into his helmet, was caught behind two balls later for a duck, Australia were in serious trouble at 69 for six.
Captain Pat Cummins and Green, however, weathered the storm while adding an unbroken 30 runs for the seventh wicket.
Things could have been even worse for Australia had the West Indies gone upstairs after an unsuccessful appeal for a caught behind, with the review showing the ball brushed Cummins’ glove on the way through to the wicketkeeper.
Green ended the day unbeaten on 42 from 65 balls, while Cummins was on five not out.
Alzarri Joseph has so far taken 3-19, while Shamar Joseph ended the day with 2-26.
Earlier, another batting meltdown by the West Indies gifted the imitative to Australia.
Resuming the day on 16 for one, pacer Josh Hazlewood struck early to trap Brandon King lbw for 14 with the score on 28.
Skipper Roston Chase and John Campbell, who was cleared to bat after an injury scare the previous day, added 30 runs before the former gloved a rising delivery from Cummins behind to be dismissed for 18.
The Windies went to tea with the match in the balance at 73 for three, but unraveled after the resumption.
Campbell played well to get up to 36 before he was lbw to fast bowler Scott Boland offering no shot, and Mikyle Louis was bowled trying to hit Hazlewood over cow corner, as the West Indies slumped to 95 for five.
And when Shai Hope was bowled yet again, this time by an inswinger from Boland, the end came quickly after, as they lost their last five wickets for 19 runs.
Boland was the pick of Australia’s bowlers with 3-34, while Cummins and Hazlewood ended with 2-24 and 2-32 respectively.
