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Australia Beat West Indies With A Commanding Win

Pavan Suresh
Australia

Australia cricket team.

The Australia Cricket Team began the home season with a resounding 164-run win on the fifth and final day of the 1st Test match played at Optus Stadium, Perth on 4 December 2022.

Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and decided to bat first. It was not an ideal start for the hosts as Jayden Seales dismissed David Warner cheaply. Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne steadied the ship putting pressure on West Indies bowlers. Kyle Mayers got rid of Khawaja with a simple catch to Joshua de Silva. Khawaja and Labuschagne added 152 runs for the 2nd wicket.

Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne looked in sensational touch keeping pressure on West Indies’ bowling. Australia ended the first day at 293 for 2 with Labuschagne on 154 while Steve Smith was not out on 59.

The second day saw Labuschagne and Smith dominating the West Indies attack. Kraigg Braithwaite eventually got rid of Labuschagne for a brilliant 204. Labuschagne and Smith added 251 runs for the 3rd wicket. Travis Head looked in great touch smashing the West Indies bowlers to all-over park. Braithwaite dismissed Head one short of the century while Smith scored his fourth double-century. Australia declared their innings on 598 for 4.

In reply, West Indies openers Kraigg Braithwaite and Tangerine Chanderpaul looked steady against top-quality Australian bowling. At the end of the second day, West Indies made 74 for 0.

Tangerine completed fifty on his debut Test match before Hazlewood got rid of Chanderpaul. Chanderpaul and Braithwaite added 78 runs for the opening wicket. Bonner was forced to retire hurt before Braithwaite and Blackwood steadied the ship putting pressure on Australian bowling. Cummins produced a beauty to dismiss Kraigg Braithwaite. Braithwaite and Blackwood added 53 runs for the 2nd wicket.

The Australian bowlers rattled the West Indies middle order picking up wickets regularly to bowl out West Indies for 283. The hosts then ended the 3rd day at 20 for 1.

David Warner and Labuschagne put enough pressure on West Indies’ bowling before Warner was dismissed by Chase. Warner and Labuschagne added 81 runs for 2nd wicket. Labuschagne and Smith took the charge as Australia declared their innings on 182. Labuschagne joined the list of elite batters to hit a double century and a century in a Test match.

Pat Cummins did not take the field as Steve Smith was named the captain. Chasing 498 runs to win, Tangerine Chanderpaul and Kraigg Braithwaite produced a stunning opening 116 runs partnership for the opening wicket. Starc got rid of Chanderpaul’s bowling around the wicket. Braithwaite looked steady completing a well-deserved century. Lyon got rid of Blackwood with a stunning catch by Labuschagne.  Braithwaite and Blackwood added 58 runs for the 3rd wicket. West Indies ended the 4th day at 192 for 3.

It was an excellent bowling performance by Australian bowlers as picked wickets at regular intervals. Alazzari Joseph and Roston Chase frustrated the Aussies bowlers before Head dismissed Joseph. Joseph and Chase added 82 runs for the 8th wicket. Australia broke the resistance of the West Indies dismissing them at 333.

With this win, Australia consolidated its top spot in the ICC Test Championship cycle. The second Test will be a day-night affair at Adelaide Oval on 8th December.

Australia 598 for 4 in 152.4 overs ( Marnus Labuschagne 204, Steve Smith 200, Kraigg Brathwaite 2/65) and 182 for 2 in 37 overs ( Labuschagne 104*, Warner 48, Roach 1/30) beat West Indies 283 in 98.2 overs ( Kraigg Braithwaite 64, Tangerine Chanderpaul 51, Cummins 3/34, Starc 3/51) and 333 in 333 in 110.5 overs ( Kraigg Braithwaite 110, Nathan Lyon 6/110) by 164 runs.

For his 204 and 104 not out, Marnus Labuschagne was named the player of the match award.

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