Middle order collapse leaves West Indies reeling

WEST INDIES TOUR OF AUSTRALIA, 2024

Hazlewood ran through the middle order. © AFP

Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins ran through the West Indies middle and lower order, triggering a collapse of 5 for 26 but a stubborn 44-run unbeaten stand for the final wicket took the visitors to 177/9 in the extended afternoon session on the opening day of the Adelaide Test.

Kirk McKenzie and debutant Kavem Hodge did well to hold Australia off for nearly an hour through their fourth-wicket partnership that began before Lunch. The former even notched up a fifty in an expensive over from Nathan Lyon that included two beautiful boundary hits as well.

However, just prior, Hazlewood had already managed a breakthrough to end their defiant stand with the wicket of Hodge. After a patient stay in the middle, the batter paid the price for a lapse in judgement as he sent a thick outside edge to gully attempting a drive off a full ball outside off. McKenzie too didn’t last long after the milestone, nicking behind as both set batters fell nine runs apart.

On the other side of drinks Hazlewood picked up his fourth when the second West Indies debutant Justin Greaves lazily drove away from body to offer a regulation catch to short cover.

Cummins struck at the other end, removing Joshua da Silva and Alzarri Joseph in successive overs. The former was setup with the short ball ploy and eventually ended up pulling one straight to deep square leg while the latter edged to second slip. Sandwiched between the two was Mitchell Starc’s only wicket of the innings so far, that of Gudakesh Motie.

With only a wicket left, the afternoon session was extended by half an hour as Shamar Joseph decided to frustrate the Australians and entertain the crowd. Windies’ third debutant of the match, Shamar took on Hazlewood’s short ball challenge and scored a couple of boundaries on the trot and then smoked a six over cow corner. The no. 11’s gutsy knock has been in stark contrast to the other batters, who did not show any application and kept wasting their starts after getting an eye in.

Brief scores: West Indies 177/9 (Kirk McKenie 50, Shamar Joseph 31*; Josh Hazlewood 4-44, PAt Cummins 4-36) vs Australia

© Cricbuzz

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