(Cricket News) Steven Smith was the only batsman who managed to stop Shamar Joseph, who summoned speeds of up to 150 km/h and bowled 11.5 overs in a row before and after dinner. Joseph ended the West Indies’ two-decade Test drought against Australia with a magnificent seven-wicket haul in the second Test, which sent West Indies racing around the Gabba in jubilation. Joseph’s injury to his toe did not stop him from celebrating his heroic performance.

Australia was 29 runs short when play resumed after dinner at 187 for 8. In the opening over following the restart, Alzarri Joseph dropped Nathan Lyon in his follow-through, but he quickly produced a thin edge off the next delivery, putting West Indies on the verge of a historic victory.

With the field spread, a shaky Smith unleashed an outrageous scoop for six, more akin to T20 cricket, cutting Australia’s target to 14 runs. But Joseph was unstoppable, capping his career-best performance with a flamboyant 7 for 68.

It meant that the series ended 1-1 and effectively ended the Australian Test summer, with the hosts being unexpectedly tested by youthful teams from Pakistan and the West Indies on hard pitches, with none of the five matches reaching the fifth day.

Australia suffered its first defeat on home soil since losing to India at the Gabba in January 2021. As with Pakistan earlier in the summer, a youthful West Indies side won over the crowd with their lively style of play and determination, led by Joseph, who single-handedly brought his team back into the match.

Before Australia lost 4 for 23 and were still 80 runs short of victory, Joseph claimed his second five-wicket haul in as many matches by dismissing Mitchell Starc, who had briefly counterattacked, just before dinner.

Starc went to his knees with his head on the ground, but he overcame pain and tiredness to nick off Pat Cummins. Australia looked to be coasting towards the target of 216 at 113 for 2, but Joseph turned the match on its head by dismissing Cameron Green and Travis Head in consecutive balls.

With heavy showers lashing Brisbane overnight and, in the morning, there had been serious doubts about Joseph’s ability to bowl after he was hit on the toe by an inswinging delivery by Starc late on day three, forcing him to retire hurt.

However, he was ruled out with a fracture and went on to produce a spell in cloudy and humid conditions that rocked Australia and set up a grandstand finish after dinner. Fortunately, the bad weather cleared, and play resumed on schedule, with Australia resuming at 60 for 2 and needing a further 156 runs.

Day three began with Smith playing aggressively, his driving particularly impressive, and he concentrated on picking off bowlers for singles. However, Green was anchored to the crease, intent on survival as Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph bowled on a dangerous length outside off stump.

Green managed just 13 runs from his first 54 deliveries, but he soon made his first boundary, pounced on a rare Roach delivery that strayed on the pads and was gifted three more in the next over after skipper Kraigg Brathwaite made a mess of a fielding attempt at mid-off.

Smith appeared comfortable until he was squared up by a menacing delivery from Alzarri Joseph, flying through the vacant third slip to bring up the 50-run partnership.

Shamar Joseph gave the West Indies the spark they needed when he came into the attack, first producing a thick edge from Green that flew over the slips. Green settled until Joseph produced a rearing delivery that hit his back elbow and fell onto the stumps, and then he delivered a scintillating yorker on the next delivery that completed a king pair for Head, who was left stunned, having suffered his third golden duck in his last six innings.

Joseph was not able to complete a hat-trick, but he soon had Marsh edging to second slip and then he cleans bowled Alex Carey with another exquisite yorker.

Play was extended by twenty minutes after Joseph dismissed Cummins, but he could not get through Smith and Lyon. Nevertheless, Joseph was not to be denied as he finished with one last epic celebration to wrap an incredible debut series. Starc chose to take on the bowling, and it proved effective until he holed out.

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