Watch: Carl Hooper and Brian Lara break down in commentary box after West Indies' historic win
West Indies beat Australia by 8 runs in the Pink Ball Test at Australia's fortress - The Gabba.
Rising pace star Shamar Joseph miraculously took a 7-wicket haul to script a historic comeback for West Indies as the visitors breached 'The Gabba' fortress after 27 long years in what turned out to be an absolute humdinger. While cruising through towards the 216-run target at one stage with scores reading 113/2 on the board, the hosts were looking all set to clinch the series as well as a possible whitewash (2-0) over the visiting side on Sunday.
However, pacer Shamar Joseph playing only in his second Test of his thrilling career so far, had other plans for his side even after sustaining a toe-crushing injury on Day 3 after Starc bowled an absolute lethal yorker. But this did not stop him from sparking a wicket riot (7/68) thereby getting his name etched in the history books at the iconic 'Gabba'. The youngster went on to pick seven wickets on Sunday during his surreal bowling spell of 11.5 overs.
Following the historic win, former West Indies captain Carl Hooper failed to keep up with his emotions and started shedding 'tears of joy' in the commentary box. In the viral video, Hooper can be seen having his hands on his head and bursting into tears. Besides, another former legend and captain Brian Lara too could not stop himself from showing his raw emotions while on air.
Twenty-seven years to beat Australia, this West Indies team can stand tall today: Brian Lara
Furthermore, Brian Lara delivered an emotional speech on the occasion. He seemed quite ecstatic and in the moment congratulated West Indies. He pointed out the huge gap of 27 years it took a Caribbean side to overcome the Australian challenge in their den to not only win the pink ball Test but also level the series. The world champions' fortress was breached within 11 months and hence the win was monumental by all sorts. As a result, Lara could not stop himself from acknowledging the fact that this West Indies team was quite inexperienced and young and yet they stood tall on the day when it mattered most.
“This is unbelievable. Twenty-seven years to beat Australia. Young, inexperienced, written off – this West Indies team can stand tall today. West Indies cricket can stand tall. Today is a big day in West Indies cricket. Congratulations to every member of that cricket team. What a wonderful occasion," an emotional teary-eyed Lara told Fox Sport.
Meanwhile, veteran Australian batter Steve Smith, who was off-colour in the series in his new role as an opener, came good when it mattered most but failed to take his side over the line. The veteran carried through his bat as he finished with an unbeaten 91 in Australia's eight-run agonizing defeat. Clocking around 150 km/h screamers, Shamar Joseph bagged consecutive victims after he bowled Cameron Green (42 off 73) through the gate off his elbow and then cleaned up Travis Head off a searing yorker on the off stump. This meant that Head became only the seventh Australian to hold the record for the 'king pair'. As a result, this was his third golden duck in last four Tests.
Shamar Joseph triggered the Australian batting collapse in what was a dream finish for the young Guyanese. Within the next six overs of his bowling spell, where he conceded 45 runs, Shamar Joseph trapped Mitchell Marsh (10 off 12) on the fourth stump as he failed to occupy the crease for a long time. Besides, he also bamboozled Australia stumper-batter Alex Carey (2 off 5) with his sheer pace. However, the young lad was not done yet and in a sort of redemption for his toe injury, claimed Mitchell Starc's wicket (21 off 14) to complete his memorable five-wicket haul in two Tests.
However, Starc had got stuck for a while for a cameo and then skipper Pat Cummins (2 off 8) who had earlier achieved his career-best (64*) score in the first innings and kept his side in the hunt, failed to support his partner, Steve Smith. The veteran batter tried to play an able foil to help Australia inch closer to the required target as he tried to counter-attack the West Indies bowlers by holding the fort from one end. With 29 runs still needed to win the game, Nathan Lyon arrived at the crease during the interval and tried to stay around with Smith.
But soon after the game resumed after the Dinner break, in the first over itself Lyon (9 off 20) tried to swivel through a failed pull shot attempt to hand the visitors another sniff at a miraculous comeback for a historic win. Thereafter, he cleaned up the last batter of the hosts in the form of Josh Hazlewood as Steve Smith failed to keep the strike and exposed the former to the fiery pacer. Consequently, a young spirited West Indies were able to level the series by a 1-1 margin.
Download Our App