Australia vs West Indies: Hosts complete Test series sweep after huge 419-point win in Adelaide | Cricket News
Australia finished a series sweep over the West Indies with a commanding 419-point victory in the second day-night Test in Adelaide.
Chasing a hopeless 497 victory target at the Adelaide Ring, West Indies defeat was only a matter of time after starting the penultimate day a precarious 38-4.
Australia took 90 minutes to complete formalities and a 2-0 series win, with Michael Neser (3-22) and Mitchell Starc (3-29) sharing five of West Indies’ last six wickets, as the tourists n ‘were ejected only for 77.
Mitchell Starc impressed by Australia to help conclude West Indies innings
Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s 17 was the highest tally by a West Indian batter in their sad scoreboard, while Scott Boland was the Australian attacking pick after his three-wicket maiden left him with numbers from 3-16.
“Big partnerships have set us up, and the bowlers have been splendid as we continue to be unbeaten in the pink ball tests,” said Australia captain Steve Smith, referring to their 11-0 record in day-night tests.
Smith praised his hitters, especially Marnus Labuschagne, whose three scores over 100 in four innings earned him the Player of the Series award.
Marnus Labuschagne made ages in the series’ two Australian Test wins
“He works incredibly hard in net,” Smith said. “He’s very adaptable to situations. No reason why he shouldn’t continue.”
Boland’s three-wicket burst on Saturday had put Australia on the brink of a massive victory and Starc took down Devon Thomas and Jason Holder in the opening 30 minutes on Sunday, exposing the West Indies tail.
Neser fired Roston Chase and Joshua Da Silva in the same match and pulled off Marquino Mindley to seal Australia’s win with five sessions to spare, with spinner Nathan Lyon bowling Alzarri Joseph in between to claim his 450th wicket test in his 112th game.
Marquino Mindley was the last wicket to fall for West Indies
Alex Carey staged a wicket-keeping masterclass for the hosts, firing off three superb catches to hasten West Indies’ collapse, while Travis Head received the player of the match award for his career-best 175 in the opening innings.
“A disappointing second game for sure,” West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said. “We showed some combat in the first test. We lost a few guys to injury but didn’t play well. We have to learn from their hitters about the start and how their bowlers played in their fields.”
Australia will then play a three-Test home series against South Africa, starting in Brisbane on Saturday, before further Tests in Melbourne on Boxing Day and Sydney on January 4.
