West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph bowled through pain to rip through a shell-shocked Australia and help deliver an extraordinary eight-run upset for his inexperienced side on day four of the second Test in Brisbane. Forced to retire hurt from a toe-crushing Mitchell Starc yorker the previous evening, Joseph bounced back to claim six wickets in a session and 7-68 overall to lift West Indies to their first test win Down Under since 1997, as Australia were bowled out for 207 in pursuit of 216 on Sunday.
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In an attempt to shield Josh Hazlewood(0), Australia’s new opener Steve Smith (91 not out) farmed the strike, but it was in vain as Joseph sent the last man’s off-stump flying to record the victory that had the tourists bouncing around the Gabba.
In their second innings, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins bravely declared at 289-9, trailing the West Indies’ first innings total of 311, before the visitors were bowled for 193 runs.
The series is even at one after Australia won the opening Test in Adelaide by a margin of ten wickets.
After receiving scans at the hospital, Joseph recovered enough on the fourth day to bowl over Travis Head (who made a king pair) and Cameron Green (42) in back-to-back deliveries, preserving the West Indies’ chances.
Then came the fall of Mitchell Marsh (10) as he juggled between the slip fielders, and as the 24-year-old’s furious afternoon onslaught continued, Alex Carey (2) soon had his stumps rocked.
Smith, who had been at 33 the previous night, carried on accumulating while Starc chose to go aggressive, smashing a 14-ball 21 before laying on his third catch of the match for debutant Kevin Sinclair at backward point.
A lionhearted 11-over session that reduced the hosts to 187-8 at the major break saw Cummins, trapped behind, score two more runs before becoming Joseph’s sixth victim.
After spilling a caught-and-bowled opportunity to put Australia nine down and down by 21, Alzarri Joseph (2-62) grabbed Nathan Lyon’s (9) bottom-edge one ball. This forced Smith to boost the ante by scooping a six over fine leg, but the hosts, surprisingly, came up just short.
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