Hazlewood bowls Aussies to victory in Windies opener

Jasper Bruce and Ben Findon |

Australia’s Travis Head has hit another half century to lift hopes of victory in the first Test.
Australia’s Travis Head has hit another half century to lift hopes of victory in the first Test.

A bowling masterclass from Josh Hazlewood has helped Australia claim a resounding 159-run victory over the West Indies on day three of the Test series opener in Bridgetown.

After a hotly contested first two days, Australia dominated on Friday (Saturday morning AEDT) with Hazlewood taking 5-43 as the tourists bowled their hosts out for 141 in their second dig.

Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood bowled Australia to victory with his 13th Test “five-fer.” (AP PHOTO)

The Windies were thwarted by a collapse of 6-26 in pursuit of 301 for victory, but were boosted by Australia’s frequent tormentor Shamar Joseph who cracked 44 runs off 22 balls – including four sixes – in a furious cameo at No.10.

Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon (2-20) struck twice in the final over of the day to seal a win that helped Australia overcome their shock loss in the WTC final and start the three-match series on a high.

The tourists are likely to regain the injured Steve Smith for the second Test that begins in Grenada next week after his absence was glaring on a tough batting deck earlier in the match.

But Australia posted a competitive second-innings total of 310 on day three thanks largely to middle-order trio Travis Head (61), Beau Webster (63) and Alex Carey (65).

In the final session, Hazlewood took all four scalps in a West Indies batting implosion of 4-9 that devastated the hosts’ middle order and had the veteran on a hat-trick at one stage.

Hazlewood broke the best partnership among the recognised batters, a 43-run stand between Keacy Carty and John Campbell, when Campbell (23) played a daring lap shot straight into Carey’s gloves.

On Hazlewood’s next ball, debutant Brandon King (0) caught a high inside edge to Cameron Green, who made up for dropping a sitter by leaping high at gully.

Captain Roston Chase (2) could not replicate a solid first innings, caught from by Sam Konstas at short leg, before Hazlewood bowled the established batter Carty with a ball that seamed in on the tricky pitch.

Axed from the XI, Marnus Labuschagne made a valuable contribution as a substitute fielder, whipping a direct hit at the stumps from the other end of the wicket to run Alzarri Joseph (0) out.

Hazlewood completed his 13th Test “five-fer” when Jomel Warrican (3) edged to Carey the ball after surviving an lbw review.

The end appeared nigh for West Indies when unlikely top-scorer Joseph edged Lyon to Usman Khawaja in the slips.

Head
Travis Head played another crucial innings for Australia. (AP PHOTO)

Earlier, No.5 Head (61 off 95 balls) ignited Australia’s fightback after the tourists went to stumps on day two in a precarious position at 4-92.

Head was trapped lbw by a low delivery from cult hero paceman Joseph (5-87), who was again the West Indies’ most important bowler after his match-winning heroics in Brisbane 17 months ago. 

Showing impressive patience, the usually furious Head had been given a life earlier, spilt by Justin Greaves on 21 as one one of the hosts’ seven dropped catches for the match.

Beau Webster
Australia’s Beau Webster plays a shot against West Indies on his way to a half century. (AP PHOTO)

After bringing up a third Test half-century, towering allrounder Webster (63 off 120) fell to an unfortunate tickle down the leg side as Joseph picked up his third wicket. 

Carey, displaying some exciting stroke-making, was out caught in the deep by Greaves off Chase – the only Australian wicket that fell to spin for the match.

AAP