Image Credit- AP
Australia wrapped up a 10-wicket victory before lunch
on the third day in Adelaide as Josh Hazlewood claimed career-best match
figures, but there was late drama when Shamar Joseph drew blood from Usman
Khawaja with a bouncer when the scores were level, forcing him to retire hurt.
Shamar Joseph again showed his batting prowess at No.
11, which will surely mean a promotion in the near future, as he and Kemar
Roach added 26 for the last wicket to follow the 55 they put on in the first
innings.
For Khawaja and Steven Smith, it meant a short second
innings. It’s strange that Shamar Joseph, who in Test cricket claimed Smith
with his opening ball, did not receive the new ball. When 14 was needed,
Khawaja cut him to the boundary with the first ball, and he eventually came on
in the fifth over. His beautiful delivery beat Smith’s edge.
Then Khawaja was defeated by a lifter, and as he
attempted to wobble out of the line, an ungainly bouncer clattered against his
helmet near his jaw. With blood streaming from his mouth, Khawaja exited the
field, allowing Marnus Labuschagne to score the game-winning runs.
West Indies lost Justin Greaves to the last ball of
the second day, and they were now 22 behind with four wickets remaining. They
reduced the gap to 11 runs until Joshua Da Silva handed away his innings by
top-edging a hook to deep backward square off Mitchell Starc, giving in to the
well-planned short-ball plan.
Against Starc, Alzarri Joseph displayed good technique
and produced two powerful cover drives, although he was given a narrow
advantage near the wicket. West Indies were still down by a score when Gudakesh
Motie became Hazlewood’s sixth wicket, shouldering arms to one that was far too
tight to leave.
Warm ovation greeted each run contributed by the
last-wicket pair, although it compounded Australia’s recent struggles to pass
lower-order stands. Shamar Joseph charged and missed, but Nathan Lyon, who had
begun the day bowling a single delivery, returned and put an end to the
resistance.
The second Test, which will take place day and night,
starts in Brisbane on January 25.