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Early on July 15, Australia completed a series whitewash against West Indies as they claimed the third and final Test by 176 runs at the Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. After putting 225 runs on the board after opting to bat first, they restricted the hosts, Roston Chase-led West Indies to 143, thus taking 82-run lead. On the back of a 66-ball 42 from Cameron Green, they put 204-run for West Indies to chase.
But what followed by just Australians playing their real cricket as they bundled out the Windies side at 27, just avoiding them to register the record lowest score in Test cricket history. During the final innings of the third Test at the Sabina Park, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland came out as the pick of the favourites, picking five and three wickets respectively.
Scott Boland becomes 10th Australia to take a hat-trick in Tests
Mitchell Starc, who played his 100th Test, picked the quickest five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Coming into the attack, Starc sent back three Caribbean batters in the first over, followed by picking a couple more in his third over as the hosts reeled at 7/5, taking all five in just a span of 15 balls. In his spell of 7.3 overs, he claimed six wickets while conceding only nine runs.
Apart from Starc, Boland starred as he claimed a hat-trick, becoming only the tenth Australian to claim a hat-trick in Tests, joining the legendary group consisting of Frederick Spofforth, Hugh Trumble, Jimmy Matthews, Lindsay Kline, Merv Hughes, Damien Fleming, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Peter Siddle. In doing so, the 36-year-old pacer also became the first bowler to achieve a Test hat-trick in a Day-Night match.
He began the hat-trick by trapping Justin Greaves LBW with a delivery that came back sharply. Next, he used his trademark seam movement to dismiss Shamar Joseph, before sealing the milestone with a peach that knocked over Jomel Warrican’s stumps. Boland ended with figures of 3 for 2, playing a crucial role in securing Australia’s 176-run victory and a 3-0 series sweep.
