Hazelwood’s Five-Wicket Haul Propels Australia to Three-Day Victory

The thrilling conclusion of the third Test match between Australia and the West Indies at Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 30, 2025, saw the visitors secure a commanding 159-run victory, courtesy of a dramatic collapse of the West Indies batting lineup in the final session of the day. Australia, having set a challenging target of 341 runs, unleashed a relentless bowling attack, spearheaded by the impressive Josh Hazlewood, who claimed five wickets for 43 runs. The West Indies, despite showing resilience in patches, succumbed to the pressure, losing all ten wickets in a single session, with the final two wickets tumbling in consecutive deliveries off the bowling of Nathan Lyon in what would have been the last over of the day.

The match’s narrative unfolded across three days of captivating cricketing action. Australia, batting first, posted a total of 180 runs in their first innings. Alex Carey, Matthew Webster, and Travis Head all made valuable contributions with scores of 65, 63, and 61 respectively. Shamar Joseph, the West Indies’ bright spark with the ball, claimed a five-wicket haul for 87 runs, showcasing his potential and giving the home side a glimmer of hope. The West Indies responded with a determined effort in their first innings, reaching 190 runs, a slender lead of 10 runs. This set the stage for an intriguing contest in the second innings.

Australia’s second innings saw a more assured batting performance. The contributions from Carey, Webster, and Head in the first innings laid the foundation, and this time, supported by solid middle-order contributions, they established a more substantial lead. Their total of 310 runs set the West Indies a challenging target of 341 for victory. The West Indies’ chase began with a mix of caution and aggression. However, the Australian bowlers, led by the relentless Hazlewood, maintained a stranglehold on the scoring rate and steadily chipped away at the West Indies batting lineup.

The final session of the third day proved to be a dramatic turning point. The West Indies, who had shown resilience throughout the match, crumbled under the pressure. Hazlewood’s incisive bowling and astute field placements created consistent opportunities, which the Australian fielders capitalized on with sharp catches. The pressure mounted as wickets tumbled regularly, and the West Indies batsmen struggled to build partnerships. As the day drew to a close, the West Indies found themselves seven wickets down, with the target still a distant prospect. Australia, sensing victory, opted to take the extra half-hour allocated for such situations.

Even as defeat seemed inevitable, a late flurry of resistance from Shamar Joseph and Justin Greaves briefly raised hopes for the West Indies. Joseph, having survived a dropped catch by Sam Konstas in the deep, began playing with more freedom, connecting with some powerful strokes. Greaves, at the other end, displayed a calm composure, blocking resolutely and rotating the strike whenever possible. Their combined effort momentarily delayed the inevitable and suggested that the match might extend into the fourth day.

However, the Australian bowlers, refusing to relent, maintained their relentless pressure. Hazlewood continued to probe for weaknesses, and Lyon, introduced into the attack for the final over of the day, delivered the knockout blows. Joseph, attempting another attacking shot, edged the ball to slip, where it was safely taken. With the very next delivery, Lyon trapped Jayden Seales leg before wicket, sparking jubilant celebrations among the Australian players as they secured a comprehensive 159-run victory. The match provided a compelling spectacle of Test cricket, demonstrating both the resilience of the West Indies and the dominant bowling performance of the Australian side.