After a smooth summer, Australia finally faced a challenging session in the last match of the five against the Windies, invoking their heritage to apply severe pressure on the Kangaroos. Debutant Kevin Sinclair initiated the day with a hard-fought half-century, supported by Kemar Roach’s impressive 40-ball resistance, allowing the visitors to reach a first-innings total of 311 from an overnight score of 266/8.
The new-ball duo, Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph, utilized the five overs before Dinner to wreak havoc on the Australian top order. Roach trapped Steve Smith LBW in the first over with a sharply nipping back-length delivery, while Alzarri Joseph induced a screamer from Sinclair at second slip by jagging one away from Marnus Labuschagne.
Roach added to the misery by dismissing Green at catching mid-off and having Travis Head strangled down leg for a golden duck, leaving the World Test champions reeling at 24/4. Australia’s renowned resilience surfaced in the second session, with Mitchell Marsh starting the counterattack with a quick 21, and Alex Carey escalating it with a splendid response.
Carey’s 49-ball 65, featuring four boundaries in one Shamar Joseph over and a hefty maximum, ended with a pulled shot to square leg off Roach. Usman Khawaja held his ground with a trademark patient 75, but once he fell – marked by an elaborate backflip celebration from Sinclair – with the team still trailing by nearly 70, a significant first-innings lead seemed imminent for the Caribbean outfit.
However, skipper Cummins had different plans, blazing a 65 off 73 balls before declaring with a wicket in hand to challenge the visitors under lights.
— Glennmax (@maxglenn425) January 26, 2024
The strategy paid off as Tagenarine Chanderpaul nicked off on the last ball of the day, redeeming Steve Smith after he dropped a sitter an over earlier.