Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland Dominate as Australia Takes on West Indies in 3rd Test
Mitchell Starc delivered a stunning performance by taking six wickets for just nine runs as Australia bowled out the West Indies for a mere 27 runs in the third Test at Kingston, Jamaica. This remarkable feat marks the second-lowest total in Test cricket history and secured a 176-run victory for Australia, completing a 3-0 series sweep of the Frank Worrell Trophy. Starc achieved the fastest five-wicket haul in Test history within his first 15 balls, while Scott Boland also made headlines by securing a hat-trick during this historic match.
### Starc’s Record-Breaking Performance
In an extraordinary display of bowling, Mitchell Starc not only claimed six wickets but also reached a significant milestone by recording his 400th Test wicket in his 100th Test match. His exceptional performance included achieving the fastest five-wicket haul in Test history, taking five wickets in just 15 balls. Starc’s initial breakthrough came with the dismissal of opener John Campbell, who was caught by Josh Inglis, the concussion substitute for Alex Carey. Starc quickly dismantled the West Indies batting lineup, leading to a shocking collapse where the team found themselves at 11-6. Starc reflected on the match, noting the challenging batting conditions under the lights, and expressed satisfaction with the series result.
### Boland’s Hat-Trick and Team Dominance
Scott Boland added to the Australian bowling prowess by achieving a hat-trick, becoming the 10th Australian to do so in Test cricket history. Boland’s hat-trick was completed with the dismissals of Justin Greaves, Shamar Joseph, and Jomel Warrican, further underscoring Australia’s dominance throughout the match. The West Indies struggled significantly, with only four of their eleven batters managing to score runs. Their total of 27 runs narrowly avoided the record for the lowest score in Test cricket, which currently stands at 26 runs by New Zealand in 1955.
### West Indies’ Struggles and Series Recap
The West Indies’ batting troubles were evident, as they finished their innings at a dismal 27 runs, surpassing their previous lowest Test score of 47 against England in 2004. The team’s performance was marked by a collective failure, with the top six batters contributing only six runs. Captain Roston Chase acknowledged the strong bowling performance from Australia but lamented the batting lineup’s inability to perform. Earlier in the match, Alzarri Joseph had taken five wickets for 27 runs, helping to restrict Australia to 121 runs in their second innings and setting a target of 204 runs. However, the West Indies’ batting woes ultimately sealed their fate in the series.
### Conclusion and Future Outlook
This series concluded with Australia securing victories in all three matches, having previously defeated the West Indies by 159 runs in Barbados and 133 runs in Grenada. Starc’s record performance and Boland’s hat-trick highlighted the stark differences between the two teams in this series. With the West Indies facing significant challenges in their batting lineup, the team will need to regroup and address these issues as they look ahead to future competitions.
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