Image Credit- Twitter (X)
Shamar Joseph, whose impressive seven-wicket haul in
the second Test gave West Indies a thrilling eight-run victory over Australia,
defied his injured toe and celebrated by running around the Gabba in joy.
Joseph completed his outstanding performance by
dismissing Josh Hazlewod shortly after dinner, ending the West Indies’
two-decade Test drought against Australia.
The only batsman who was able to stop Joseph was
Steven Smith, who scored his first half-century as an opener and finished
undefeated at 91 not out. Joseph, who could summon speeds of up to 150 km/h,
engaged him in a thrilling duel in which he bowled 11.5 overs in a row before
and after supper.
After dinner, Australia was still 29 runs short at 187
for 8. when the match, West Indies were on the verge of a historic triumph when
Alzarri Joseph dropped Nathan Lyon in the opening over when he followed
through. However, he then produced a thin edge off the next delivery.
Australia’s goal was whittled down to 14 runs when a
fearless Smith, with the field stretched, unleashed a stunning scoop for six
that was more evocative of T20 cricket. However, Joseph showed that he was
unbeatable, capping his legendary performance with a dazzling 7 for 68.
With none of the five matches extending to the fifth
day, it meant that the series finished 1-1 and put an end to the Australian
Test summer. The hosts had been unexpectedly tested on hard courts by
inexperienced teams from Pakistan and the West Indies.
For the first time since losing to India at the Gabba
in January 2021, Australia experienced loss at home.
Similar to how Pakistan did earlier in the summer, the
youthful West Indies won over the audience with their lively style of play,
spearheaded by Joseph, who brought his team back into the match on his own.