AUS vs WI: Brittle West Indies collapse as ruthless Australia take 1-0 lead in Test series

India Today

7 hours ago

Ruthless Australia hammered hosts West Indies in the 1st Test, courtesy of under-fire Josh Hazlewood, who picked up 5 wickets in the final innings of the match. The brittle batting line-up of the host team failed to survive even 35 overs in the final innings of the match, getting bowled out in 33.4 overs, in front of a target of 301 runs.advertisementWest Indies' hero with the ball – young Shamar Joseph – played an entertaining knock of 44 (22 balls) but could not help the side chase the improbable target on a spicy wicket that was difficult to bat on throughout the Test match. After Hazlewood's 5-wicket haul, Nathan Lyon cleaned up the tail with 2 back-to-back wickets, handing Windies a defeat by 159 runs in the opening Test match of the series.West Indies vs Australia, 1st Test: As it Happened
"There was enough in the wicket, up-and-down from a length," said Hazlewood, who finished with figures of five for 43."It's just about hitting that area time and time again and being patient. I'm just enjoying cricket, Tests at the moment. Good team, atmosphere."I think once we saw West Indies take the second new ball today, we thought things could happen, but not that fast. There are a few cracks on a length from one end, some went low and we got a few bowled and lbws."advertisementWindies batters were simply not able to match the class of Hazlewood, who was under fire from Mitchell Johnson ahead of this Test series. Johnson had accused Hazlewood of prioritising the Indian Premier League over Test cricket, after Australia failed to defend their World Test Championship title against South Africa earlier in June.On the 3rd day of the Test match, Hazlewood's victims included John Campbell (caught behind attempting a scoop), Brandon King (edging to gully first ball), Roston Chase (popping to short leg), and Keacy Carty (bowled by vicious seam movement), before completing his 13th Test five-wicket haul by having Warrican caught at slip.Pat Cummins added Shai Hope's wicket with another delivery that kept fatally low, while substitute fielder Marnus Labuschagne's direct hit ran out Alzarri Joseph to underline Australia's superiority in all departments.Travis Head Sets Up WinEarlier, Australia had methodically constructed their match-winning position through intelligent batting across three sessions. Beau Webster (63) and Travis Head (61) forged the match's first century partnership before Head was left sprawled face-down by a Shamar Joseph delivery that hurried beneath his bat.Alex Carey's enterprising 65, featuring a spectacular six onto the stadium roof, effectively sealed the contest despite Joseph claiming his own five-wicket haul with a tireless display of seam bowling. The day's dramatic shifts perfectly encapsulated Test cricket's unpredictability – from morning resistance to afternoon collapse – with Australia demonstrating precisely why they remain one of the best all-conditions teams in the world right now.The second Test of the 3-match series will start on July 3.- EndsTrending Reel