Follow UsAustralia were 65/4 at one stage in the third innings while they looked to set a daunting fourth innings target for West Indies to chase down in the first Test of the Frank Worrell Trophy 2025. However, they let go of the reins along with a plethora of catches as the Australian lower middle order batters Travis Head (61 off 95), Beau Webster (63 off 120), and Alex Carey (65 off 75) made merry and helped their team score 310 runs.
With 301 to chase in the fourth innings, West Indies were always on the backfoot against Australia’s fiery pace attack, and that’s what happened exactly as Mitch Starc got Kraigg Brathwaite dismissed in the first over of the innings itself. This was Starc’s 19th wicket in the first over of an innings in Test cricket since 2015 — the most for a bowler in this period.
After that, it was Josh Hazlewood's show in Bridgetown, Barbados, as he picked up John Campbell, Brandon King, and Roston Chase in no time in the 11th and 13th over. Keacy Karty was dismissed then in the 15th over, and the home side had probably lost all hopes to chase the total down as they were 56/5 in the 15th over.
The slump didn’t end for the Windies as Pat Cummins then cleaned up Shai Hope six overs later, and it was all curtains with only the lower-order batters left to bat. Justin Greaves and Shamar Joseph, who took 5/87 in the third innings, did show some gumption and added 55 runs for the ninth wicket, but all hopes had ended by then.
Australia picked up the last two wickets in a jiffy and registered a splendid victory in Barbados by 159 runs. Head was chosen as the Player of the match for his twin half-centuries in the low-scoring game.
Brief Scores: Australia first innings 180 (Travis Head 59, Usman Khawaja 47; Jayden Seales 5-60, Shamar Joseph 4-46)
West Indies first innings 190 (Shai Hope 48, Roston Chase 44; Mitch Starc 3-65)
Australia second innings 310 (Alex Carey 65, Beau Webster 63, Travis Head 61; Shamar Joseph 5-87)
West Indies second innings 141 (Shamar Joseph 44; Josh Hazlewood 5-43)
Result: Australia won by 159 runs