Pacer domination continues in the Caribbean as Scott Boland breaks a 110-year-old record.
With fiery bowling from Scott Boland and Pat Cummins, Australia crushed the West Indies with ease. Though the visitors have a comfortable lead after the first innings, the West Indies are far from safe in their second innings.
At the end of day two of the day-night Test in Jamaica, Australia leads by 181 runs in their second innings.
At Sabina Park, the West Indies were bowled out for 143 in their first innings, replying to Australia’s 225. Now, batting again, Australia stands at 99 for 6 after losing six wickets.
Continuing the pace attack, Australian pacers shared all the wickets. Boland, who replaced Nathan Lyon, has taken 3 wickets for just 34 runs—leading the charge.
In his 15-match, 27-innings career, Boland has picked up 59 wickets at an impressive average of just 17.33. Among bowlers who have bowled over 2,000 deliveries since 1915, Boland holds the record for the lowest average.
He has surpassed fellow Australian Bert Ironmonger, who played between 1928 and 1933 and took 74 wickets at 17.97. Among bowlers post-1900, only English legend Sid Barnes has a lower average than Boland—with 189 wickets at 16.43.
West Indies began their second innings at 16 for 1 wicket. Josh Hazlewood struck early, removing Brandon King LBW. Pat Cummins then dismissed the previous day’s unbeaten batsman, Roston Chase.
Due to injury, John Campbell missed the previous day but came in to bat at number four. Another regular opener, Michael Leewis, joined soon after but couldn’t make much impact.
Campbell top-scored with 36 runs before Boland bowled him LBW with a superb delivery. The 36-year-old pacer then bowled Shay Hope, who was struggling with a headache.
West Indies lost their last five wickets for just 19 runs and were all out well before the 150-run mark.
In the final session, Sam Constances couldn’t stay long either, falling to Shamar Joseph’s sharp bowling after barely opening his account.
Constances has scored just 50 runs in 6 innings of this series at an average of 8.33. No Australian opener has finished a three-match series with such a low average while scoring a century this year.
Experienced left-hander Usman Khawaja also failed to hold firm, bowled by Shamar Joseph for 14 runs. He has managed 117 runs at 19.50 in the series so far.
Alzarri Joseph then put on a spectacular bowling display, taking 3 wickets. After unsettling Steven Smith with several short balls, Joseph trapped the experienced batsman LBW with a sudden full-length delivery, sending him back to the dressing room.
Joseph also dismissed Beau Webster and Alex Carey with two excellent deliveries, while Justin Greaves took the wicket of Travis Head. Debutant Kevlon Anderson secured a brilliant catch in the slips to send Head packing.
Australia found themselves in trouble at 69 for 6 wickets. Cameron Green, coming in at number three, fought back alongside Pat Cummins, adding 30 runs for the seventh wicket.
Cummins nearly got out late in the day when a catch by wicketkeeper Shay Hope was taken off his gloves, but the West Indies didn’t appeal and even avoided a review. Thus, the Australian captain survived.
The day ended with Green unbeaten on 42. The all-rounder also made an important 46 in the first innings.
Brief Score
Australia 1st innings: 225
West Indies 1st innings: 143 (52.1 overs; King 14, Chase 18, Campbell 36, Lewis 7, Hope 23, Greaves 18, Alzarri 2, Shamar 8, Warrican 0, Sills 4*; Stark 13-3-32-1, Hazlewood 10-1-32-2, Cummins 11-2-24-2, Boland 13.1-3-34-3, Webster 5-1-15-1)
Australia 2nd innings: 99/6 (29 overs; Khawaja 14, Constances 0, Green 42*, Smith 5, Head 16, Webster 13, Carey 0, Cummins 5*; Sills 8-2-32-0, Shamar 9-3-26-2, Alzarri 8-1-19-3, Greaves 4-0-19-1)
