Australia defeats West Indies by 10 wickets in Day 3 itself, Josh Hazlewood and Travis Head were the stars for Aussies.

Josh Hazlewood showcased his bowling prowess by securing his 11th five-wicket haul in test matches, contributing significantly to Australia’s commanding 10-wicket victory over West Indies. The match concluded before lunch on the third day of the first test.

On Friday, Australia efficiently dismissed West Indies for 120 in the 13th over, setting a target of just 26 runs for the visiting team. Steve Smith (11) and Usman Khawaja (9) successfully chased down the required runs, although Khawaja had to retire hurt after sustaining an injury from a bouncer when Australia needed only one run. Marnus Labuschagne sealed the win two balls later.

Hazlewood had already made a significant impact with figures of 4-18 at the beginning of the day, playing a key role in reducing West Indies to 73-6 in their second innings by the end of the second day. Australia had established a lead of 95 runs in the first innings, posting 283 in response to West Indies’ 188.

The pivotal question at the start of the day was whether West Indies could force Australia to bat again. The task became increasingly challenging as Mitchell Starc dismissed Joshua da Silva (18) and Alzarri Joseph (16), while Hazlewood bowled Gudakesh Motie (3), leaving West Indies at 94-9, just one run away from an innings defeat.

In a commendable effort, Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roche mounted a small rearguard action, adding 26 runs for the last wicket, building on their partnership of 55 runs in the first innings. Shamar Joseph, a standout performer with 36 runs in the first innings and a debut 5-94, contributed three boundaries on Friday before becoming the final wicket.

The second and final test between the two teams is scheduled to commence on January 25 in Brisbane, featuring a day-night format at the Gabba.