WATCH: Mitchell Starc wrecks havoc in 100th Test, bundles out West Indies for lowest-ever score of 27
Australia completed a Test match series whitewash against the West Indies with a massive 176-run in the third and final Test at Kingston in Jamaica on Monday. Chasing a modest target of 204 to win, Roston Chase’s Windies were bundled out for their lowest-ever score 27 all out in just over 14 overs.
The architect of Australia’s comprehensive win was Mitchell Starc, in his landmark 100th Test match. Starc claimed incredible figures of 6 wickets for just 9 runs in 7.3 overs to dismantle the home sides’s top order. The Delhi Capitals left-arm pacer created a new record in Test cricket, claiming the fastest-ever five-wicket haul in Test cricket – off only 15 balls.
The Australian left-armer dismissed opener John Campbell off the first ball of the innings and added the wickets of Kevlon Anderson (0) and Brandon Kings (0) in the first over for a triple-wicket maiden.
“It worked out very well for the week, it has been a fantastic series for us, difficult conditions for the batters, will go back home with a smile on my face. We saw last night that the conditions with the hard new pink ball was pretty difficult for the batters. It was pretty blistery today but our bowling has been on the money throughout,” Starc said after the match.
WATCH Mitchell Starc claim six wickets against West Indies in the Pink ball Test HERE…
“Today again just felt like everything was in sync. Everyone who had the ball in hand today was on the mark straight away. I don’t think we imagined it was going to happen as quickly as it did but when you’ve got an attack like ours, some things can happen like that,” Starc added.
Mitchell Starc become 4th Australian to claim 400 wickets
The 35-year-old Australian fast bowler also became only the 4th Australian bowler after Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Nathan Lyon to complete 400 wickets in Test cricket. Starc now has 402 wickets in 100 Test matches at an average of 27.02.
The bowlers from both sides dominated the series with Australia hammering the home side by 159 runs in Barbados in the first Test and by 133 runs in Grenada in the second one to once again complete a clean sweep in the Frank Worrell Trophy.
Scott Boland picks up a hat-trick
Pat Cummins-led side dropped Nathan Lyon for the Pink Ball Test and brought back Scott Boland. The decision was justified as the pacer claimed a hat-trick to complete Windies rout. Starc missed taking his hat-trick after dismissing Anderson and King off successive ball in the first over the innings.
But Boland was on the mark, dismissing Justin Greaves, Shamar Joseph and Jomel Warrican in the 14th over of the match. It was the Australia’s 10th hat-trick in Test cricket and first in the last 15 years.
“It was a special one, was nervous bowling that last one. Starc set us up there. I just tried putting balls in the right areas, glad it worked out. I wanted to bowl a bit quicker, felt I was a bit slow yesterday,” Boland said.
The West Indies was out for their lowest-ever Test score, eclipsing the 47 against England at the same ground in 2004. At 11 for 6 in the sixth over it was in danger of inheriting the lowest score in Test history. However, a misfield by Sam Konstas in the 14th over allowed the West Indies to take a single and reach 27, narrowly avoiding New Zealand’s 70-year-old record of 26 set against England at Auckland in 1955.
Earlier, Alzarri Joseph had taken 5/27 as the West Indies bowled out Australia for 121 in their second innings, leaving a chase of 204 runs for victory. Australia began Day 3 at 99 for 6 but lasted only eight more overs.
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