West Indies rides on Shamar Joseph brilliance to stun Australia at Gabba test by 8 runs

 

Brisbane's Gabba ground is called the fortress of Australia.  This fortress has been breached  once again.  West Indies have also defeated the Australian team in the Test played at the same Gabba, on which India had hoisted the flag of victory in the year 2021 and became the first team to do so in the last 3 decades.  When the West Indies team, which looked weak on paper, came on the Gabba field against the more experienced Australia, they gave a befitting reply .  The result was that West Indies won the Gabba Test by 8 runs and in doing so created history.

 West Indies had set a target of 216 runs for Australia to win the Gabba Test.  Considering Australia's strength, this target was not difficult.  But praise has to be given to those young players of West Indies who, without thinking about how many big names are present in the opposite team, gave their best in this match and proved  that their captain Craig Brathwaite did not have faith in them for a reason .

 Chasing the target of 216 runs, the Australian team could score only 207 runs in the fourth innings and thus they stunningly lost in their backyard by 8 runs.  This is the first Test win for West Indies in Australia after almost 3 decades.  While chasing the target for Australia, one batsman who was seen fighting against West Indies was Steve Smith.  He remained unbeaten till the end and scored a brilliant  91 runs batting as an opener .

Starting the day at 60/2 , Australia looked to be cruising along comfortably with Green and Smith batting solidly and utilising scoring opportunities.  They added 71 runs for the 3rd wicket. Green (42) who played several glorious drives finally was bowled off his elbow by Samar Joseph who came on to bowl late due to his injured toe which he suffered on previous day while facing Starc .

Next ball after Green dismissal Shamar Joseph yorked Travis Head first ball to open up the match for the West Indies.  Marsh started with a four but soon he edged Joseph to slips to be out for 10 as Australia slipped into further trouble . Alex Carey (2) was soon bowled by another searing delivery by Shamar Joseph as Australia slumped to  136/6 . Starc (21) hit a few 4s as Smith was batting like a rock at the other end.  However Starc's aggression got the better of him as he skied Shamar Joseph to mid wicket . Soon Cummins (2) was caught behind brilliantly by the keeper off Shamar Joseph and 16 runs later , Lyon (9) was caught behind off Alzarri Joseph.  

Smith who already played some glorious shots , then started to open up hitting 4s off drives & pulls and played a ramp shot for 6 with only Hazlewood for company . Smith singlehandedly was trying to win the game for Australia but Shamar Joseph had the last laugh knocking over Hazlewood's stumps with another full fast yorker and ran  with his arms outstretched in breathtaking celebration as West Indies beat Australia by 7 runs in a sensational finish to the 2nd test and series .

Smith was left high and dry at 91 not out 

The entire West Indies team contributed to Australia's defeat again at Gabba.  But, Shamar Joseph, who made his Test debut in this series, had a big role.  Joseph alone took 7 wickets in the second innings.  In this way, he was chosen Player of the Match for taking 8 wickets in both the innings in the Gabba Test.

 With Australia's defeat at Gabba, its aspirations of a clean sweep in the Test series were also dashed.  The 2 test match series ended in a 1-1 draw.  With this, it happened for the first time in Test history that Australia lost a day-night test.