Australia clinch dominant win as West Indies fold in first Test

Australia secured a commanding 159-run victory over the West Indies on day three of the first Test at Kensington Oval, thanks to a relentless pace attack that dismissed the hosts for just 141 in 33.4 overs. 

Josh Hazlewood spearheaded the bowling assault with figures of 5-43, capping off a day of dominance for the visitors.

Earlier, crucial half-centuries from Alex Carey, Beau Webster, and Travis Head lifted Australia from a precarious 65-4 to a solid second innings total of 310 by tea.

Despite a valiant effort by Shamar Joseph—who took 5-87 and ended with match figures of 9-133—the West Indies batting line-up collapsed under pressure.

Chasing a steep target on a difficult, two-paced pitch, the home side’s hopes dwindled early when Kraigg Brathwaite was dismissed by Mitchell Starc in the opening over. From there, the innings unravelled quickly, sealing Australia’s emphatic win.

Hazlewood then took centre stage. His metronomic accuracy accounted for John Campbell and debutant Brandon King off successive balls, before adding the wickets of captain Roston Chase and Keacy Carty.

Chase´s Australian counterpart, Pat Cummins, removed innings top-scorer Shai Hope and insult was added to considerable injury when substitute fielder Marnus Labuschagne ran out Alzarri Joseph with a direct hit to the striker's end from mid-off.

'Hitting the right areas'

Hazlewood returned to the attack to prise out Jomel Warrican but Shamar Joseph entertained with 44 off 22 balls before falling to off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who then dismissed Jayden Seales's first ball to complete victory with two days to spare. Justin Greaves was left unbeaten on 38.

"It was just about hitting the right areas time and time again and just being patient," said Hazlewood in identifying the tactics to capitalise on the challenging surface.

"There are a few cracks there on a good length and just short of a length which kept the batters guessing about going forward or back with a few skidding through as we saw."

Australia´s intent was clear at the start of the day as Head and Webster transformed the consolidation of the previous evening to controlled aggression in a partnership of 102 for the fifth wicket.

Head was trapped lbw for 61 by Shamar Joseph 20 minutes before lunch.

However, the course of the first session could have been very different had Greaves held on to another straightforward catch at second slip off Alzarri Joseph when the left-hander was on 22.

It was the seventh chance put down by the West Indies slip cordon in the match, a poor display in one of the fundamental aspects of the game which began on day one when four catches were shelled.

With a clear intent on aggression on a pitch becoming increasingly two-paced, the Australians progressed at almost a run-a-minute after lunch despite wickets falling at regular intervals.

Carey, who top-scored with 65, built on the platform laid by Head and Webster (63), who fell caught behind the persevering Shamar Joseph.

The right-armer also accounted for Starc and wrapped up the innings when last man Hazlewood was bowled off the inside edge to give the Guyanese pacer his fourth five-wicket haul and third against Australia.

By then though, the task already looked beyond the West Indies, which was confirmed two balls before stumps.