Australia has retained the Frank Worrell Trophy after defeating the West Indies by 133 runs in a commanding performance at Grenada’s National Cricket Stadium.
Chasing a tricky 277-run target for victory in St George’s, the hosts were bowled out for 143 in 34.3 overs, with speedster Mitchell Starc taking three wickets in a scintillating performance.
The West Indian batters were no match for Australia’s world-class pace attack on the volatile wicket, with no player surviving more than 41 deliveries at the crease. Following an early collapse in the morning session, the lower order toppled like dominoes while chasing quick runs after lunch, with veteran spinner Nathan Lyon cleaning up the tail.
West Indies vs Australia Test & T20I Series | Watch every ball LIVE with ESPN, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer >
“We never really got those partnerships going,” West Indies captain Roston Chase said during the post-match presentation.
“We lost too many wickets up front, and we asked too much of the lower order.”
Australia, having taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, keeps hold of the Frank Worrell Trophy which has been in their possession since 1995.
MATCH CENTRE: West Indies vs Australia second Test scorecard
The West Indies run chase got off to a horror start, with opener John Campbell departing for a second-ball duck after metronomic seamer Josh Hazlewood pinned him on the knee roll – a desperate review couldn’t save the left-hander.
Courtesy of the unpredictable deck’s variable bounce, Keacy Carty was struck on the gloves multiple times early in his innings, with all-rounder Beau Webster missing a tough chance that burst through his hands at second slip. However, Carty couldn’t make the most of the reprieve, dismissed by Starc for 10 after feathering the Dukes ball through to gloveman Alex Carey, who was later named player of the match.
Brandon King cracked a trio of glorious cover drives after arriving at the crease, receiving an extra life on 12 when Cameron Green put down a difficult one-handed catch low to his left in the slips cordon.
Webster was introduced to the attack late in the morning session and removed milestone man Kraigg Brathwaite in his first over, with the ball kissing the veteran opener’s outside edge and carrying to Carey.
The Australians requested for a ball change ahead of what proved the final delivery before lunch, which immediately paid dividends when captain Pat Cummins produced an absolute peach that nipped away from King and crashed into the top of off stump, gone for 14.
With the West Indies in dire straits at 4-33, wicketkeeper Shai Hope came out swinging after the lunch break, slapping his first ball through point and charging at Hazlewood. However, the entertaining counterpunch ended on 17 when he top-edged a reckless slog against the Tamworth product, who swallowed a simple return chance.
Captain Roston Chase picked up where Hope left off following his departure, thumping Webster down the ground for six before clipping Starc over the square-leg boundary rope for another maximum. But the left-armed quick enacted his revenge later in the same over, with Chase trapped on the pads from around the wicket for 34 to expose the West Indies tail.
In his following over, Starc secured a third scalp when West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves chose not to review a marginal LBW shout, with ball-tracking technology suggesting the ball would have grazed the edge of leg stump.
Alzarri Joseph clobbered his first two deliveries over the boundary rope but holed out to cow corner after attempting another, becoming Lyon’s first victim of the innings. Fellow West Indies quick Shamar Joseph also took a liking to Lyon’s bowling, smacking three crisp sixes before picking out long-on for 24.
The 37-year-old tweaker sealed victory by holding onto a diving catch over his shoulder to remove tailender Jayden Seales.
Earlier, the Australians were bowled out for 243 after Shamar Joseph (4-66) and Alzarri Joseph (2-52) cleaned up the tail on Sunday morning, needing just 40 minutes to claim the final three wickets following a brief rain delay.
Resuming at 7-221, Cummins was toppled by Shamar second ball of the day after nicking behind to gloveman Hope, while Starc needed to undergo a concussion test having top-edged a short ball into his helmet.
Shortly after, Carey was trapped LBW for 30, with the West Indies successfully overturning the on-field decision with a review, before Alzarri uprooted Hazlewood’s middle stump to wrap up the innings.
The third Test between the West Indies and Australia gets underway at Kingston’s Sabina Park on Saturday.
