Nathan Lyon guides Australia to 133-run win against West Indies in second Test
New Delhi: Australia registered its comeback to seal the series against West Indies with a 133-run victory in the second Test with one day to go which also meant they held on the trophy representing the win.
On Day 4, Australia dismissed West Indies for 143 a after 34.3 overs, an eminent triumph, over scaling an unsurpassable and 2-0 lead in the three-Test competition.
After being put in to bat in the second innings on Saturday, Australia were severely under pressure at 28-3, but fighting half-centuries by Steve Smith and Cameron Green have kept them anchored and have shifted the momentum in Australia s favour.
Ducking out in 221-7 overnight with a lead of 254, Australia was eventually dismissed for 243, and this gave West Indies a tough target of 277 runs to win. Shamar Joseph was impressive with the ball when he finished with figures of 4/66.
West Indies was in trouble in chase at 33-4. It was done at the afternoon sitting. Australian fast left-arm Mitchell Starc led their bowling attack with 3 for 24 in eight overs. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood claimed 2 wickets, offspinner Nathan Lyon finished with 3-42 after 5.3 overs to mop-up the tail.
A six-wicket match haul carried Lyon to second place on Australia all-time list of leading wicket-takers, one behind Glenn McGrath.
Lyon has 562 wickets in 139 tests as of 2011. McGrath bowled 563 in 124 tests between 1993-2007. The Australian list is headed by Shane Warne, the great legspinner who passed away in 2022, with 708 wickets at 25.23 in 145 tests between 1992 2007.
Captain Roston Chase attained the top score with 34 in the second innings when he was caught lbw to Starc as the ball kept low as he bowled against leg stump.
Shamar Joseph stroke three sixes in a run-a-ball 24 before he skied a catch off Lyon to Beau Webster in the deep and was the second last wicket.
Alex Carey (Australia) was also named the player of the match after having scored those innings-saving 63s in the first innings, 30s in the second, and four catches as wicket-keeper.
“To be able to do that and win a series for Australia is fantastic,” Carey said. The Caribbean tour was a vast improvement for his team on the previous bilateral series in Australia in 2023-24, when the West Indies troubled the home team and scored an upset win in the Gabba test. “They came out two years ago, and they challenged us. For us to win this series outright, it has been a fantastic tour.”
Australia captain Pat Cummins termed the series victory as coming at a right stage since his side lost a month ago to South Africa in the final of the World Test Championship.
“An away (series) win as well, they’re not the easiest to come by, so really pumped with how we’ve bounced back after Lord’s,” Cummins said. “It’s a dream start, two from two gets us into the (new WTC) cycle and we’ve played some really good cricket.”
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