West Indies stunned Australia to win the second Test of their series by eight runs after heroics from Shamar Joseph.
Australia came into the fourth day needing 156 runs to win the two-Test series with West Indies requiring eight wickets to cause an upset.
Joseph was the star as he took seven wickets in the second innings, bowling out Josh Hazlewood, when Australia needed nine runs to win, which gave West Indies victory and sparked huge celebrations.
Forced to retire hurt from a toe-crushing Mitchell Starc yorker the previous evening, Joseph bounced back to claim six wickets in a session and 7-68 overall to lift West Indies to their first Test win in Australia since 1997, as the hosts were bowled out for 207 in pursuit of 216.
Australia’s new opener Steve Smith (91 not out) farmed the strike to protect Hazlewood (0), but it was to no avail as Joseph sent the tailender’s off-stump flying to register the win which sent the tourists running in celebration at the Gabba.
Before the West Indies were dismissed for 193 in their second dig, Australia skipper Pat Cummins had courageously declared at 289-9 with his side still behind the visitors’ first innings total of 311.
West Indies’ Shamar Joseph produced an incredible bowling performance with 7-68
Joseph, who had been sent to the hospital for scans, recovered sufficiently by day four to bowl over Cameron Green (42) and Travis Head, who made a king pair, in consecutive deliveries to keep alive West Indies’ hopes.
Mitchell Marsh (10) fell next, juggled between the slips, and Alex Carey (2) soon had his stumps rattled as the 24-year-old’s fiery afternoon rampage continued.
Resuming from 33 overnight, Smith continued to accumulate while Starc opted for aggression, blasting a 14-ball 21 before presenting debutant Kevin Sinclair at backward point his third catch for the game.
Cummins, caught behind, added two before becoming Joseph’s sixth victim in a lionhearted 11-over spell which reduced the hosts to 187-8 at the major break.
Alzarri Joseph (2-62) captured Nathan Lyon’s (9) bottom-edge one ball after spilling a caught-and-bowled chance to have Australia nine down and trailing by 21, forcing Smith to up the ante by scooping a six over fine leg but in the end the hosts, sensationally, fell just short.
The final margin embodies an enthralling contest in which both sides experienced periods of ascendancy, however the West Indies, who fielded four debutantes in the series, had to overcome their share of bad luck.
