Australia seal series win after fourth-day onslaught

Perth Now

6 hours ago

Australia are celebrating a stunning victory in the second Test in Grenada, and clinching the series in the process, after demolishing the West Indies with a day to spare.
Set a target of 277 runs to win, the West Indies second innings was ripped apart by the tourists. West Indies were all out for 143, Australia doing the damage in 34.3 overs to complete a 133-run victory and retain the Frank Worrell Trophy.
Mitchell Starc was the destroyer in chief, taking 3-24 in eight overs. He was ably assisted by Nathan Lyon, who mopped up the Windies tail with 3-42. Josh Hazlewood added further potency to the lethal Aussie attack with 2-33.
Earlier, West Indies had cleaned out Australia's last three wickets well before lunch, the innings totalling 243 and leaving the match seemingly intriguingly poised.
But the Australian attack quickly set to work.
Beau Webster, Hazlewood, Starc and captain Pat Cummins took the wickets that shredded West Indies' top order before lunch.
Eight balls in and the West Indies were already feeling the pain at the hands of the Aussie pacers.
John Campbell was first to fall, lbw facing his second delivery from Hazlewood. Keacy Carty was next out, edging one from Starc to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Webster's introduction in the 10th over was swiftly rewarded with the prized wicket of opener Kraigg Brathwaite, who departed for seven in his 100th Test match, Carey again taking the catch.. Australia's Mitchell Starc celebrates taking the wicket of West Indies' captain Roston Chase. Credit: AAP
Brandon King, the saviour of West Indies' first innings, began his second shift on a positive note, scoring three boundaries in his 14, but Cummins managed to sneak one through his defences right on the brink of lunch.
There was no let up after the interval. West Indies wicketkeeper Shai Hope came out swinging but was soon gone after top-edging a hopeful slog to give Hazlewood a simple return chance.
Roston Chase, the home captain, was trapped on the pads from around the wicket by Starc after a brisk 34, and the Australian pacer struck again soon after, having all-rounder Justin Greaves lbw.
Alzarri Joseph smashed his first two deliveries over the boundary rope but soon fell to seamer Lyons, who also accounted for Shamar Joseph although not before smacking three sixes.
Lyons sealed victory by holding on to a diving catch over his shoulder to remove tailender Jayden Seales.
Earlier, resuming their second innings on 7-221, the tourists were able to add 22 runs for the loss of their last three wickets, leaving the match, at that point at least, delicately poised.
.Cummins was the first to go, without adding to his overnight four. He took a tentative poke at Shamar Joseph's delivery and the ball took the outside edge to give Hope a relatively straightforward catch.
Joseph next claimed Australia's other overnight batter, Carey, a DRS review giving him lbw. He had lifted his overnight 26 to 30.
Last to go was Hazlewood, who made four with a beautiful straight drive to the boundary before being bowled by Azarri Joseph, cousin of Shamar, who took out the middle stick.
It was a credible innings from the Aussies, who had made 286 in the first innings, with the highlight a composed 71 from Steve Smith. Shamar Joseph had been their chief tormentor, taking 4-66.