Image: Australia's victory in the Kingston Test / © ESPNCricinfo
With the end of Day 2, which was dominated by the bowlers, the third Test match between West Indies and Australia at Sabina Park, Kingston, on July 13, 2025, saw 15 wickets tumble, leaving Australia in a strong position. The day-night Test, part of the Australia tour of West Indies, witnessed Australia’s first innings conclude at 225, followed by a West Indies collapse to 143, and Australia reaching 99/6 in their second innings, leading by 181 runs at stumps. Shamar Joseph’s fiery four-wicket haul, Scott Boland’s disciplined bowling, and Cameron Green’s resilient batting were the standout performances on the day.
Day 2 began with the West Indies resuming their first innings at 16/1 after a tough nine overs under lights on Day 1. Australia, having been bowled out for 225, aimed to rattle the hosts early. Josh Hazlewood struck in the 16.2nd over, trapping Brandon King lbw for 14 off 42 balls. King reviewed, but the decision was the umpire’s call on impact, leaving West Indies at 28/2. Roston Chase (18 off 71) and John Campbell steadied briefly, but Pat Cummins dismissed Chase in the 26.4th over, caught by Usman Khawaja in the slips for a 119-minute grind. West Indies reached 46/2 at drinks, trailing by 179 runs.
The session turned decisively in Australia’s favor as Scott Boland joined the attack. In the 35.1st over, he trapped Campbell lbw for 36 off 65, a decision confirmed after a review, reducing West Indies to 82/4. Campbell’s 97-minute resistance included four fours, but his exit hurt the hosts. Mikyle Louis fell soon after in the 38.3rd over, bowled by Hazlewood for 7 off 30, leaving West Indies at 95/5. By lunch, they were 73/3 in 32 overs, with Campbell (31) and Louis (2) battling, but Australia’s pacers, led by Boland (1/34) and Hazlewood (2/32), kept the pressure on, exploiting the pink ball’s movement.
Post-lunch, West Indies’ batting unraveled under Australia’s relentless pace attack. Shai Hope (23 off 35) and Justin Greaves (18 off 31) offered brief resistance, adding 29 runs for the sixth wicket. However, Boland struck again in the 46.3rd over, bowling Hope with a gem that nipped back to hit the stumps, leaving West Indies at 124/6. Beau Webster chipped in, dismissing Alzarri Joseph for 2, caught by Steven Smith in the 47.2nd over.
Greaves was run out in the 48.3rd over for 18, thanks to a sharp throw from Sam Konstas, and Jomel Warrican fell for a duck to Cummins in the 49.6th over, caught by Alex Carey. Boland sealed the innings in the 52.1st over, bowling Shamar Joseph for 8, as West Indies were skittled for 143 in 52.1 overs, trailing by 82 runs.
Boland’s 3/34 in 13.1 overs was the pick, supported by Cummins (2/24), Hazlewood (2/32), Starc (1/32), and Webster (1/15). West Indies’ run rate of 2.74 reflected their struggle against a disciplined attack, with only Campbell and Hope showing fight. The innings included 10 extras, but the hosts’ makeshift opening pair, necessitated by injuries to Mikyle Louis and John Campbell, faltered under the pink-ball conditions. Australia’s bowlers, particularly Boland, were relentless, setting the stage for their second innings.
Australia began their second innings with an 82-run lead, aiming to build a daunting target. However, West Indies’ pacers, led by Shamar Joseph, roared back under the floodlights. Shamar struck in the 1.5th over, dismissing Sam Konstas for a five-ball duck, caught by Roston Chase. Usman Khawaja fell in the 5.5th over, bowled by Shamar for 14 off 21, leaving Australia at 19/2. Alzarri Joseph joined the party, removing Steven Smith for 5 in the 8.6th over, bowled by a sharp delivery. At drinks, Australia were 46/3 in 16 overs, with Cameron Green (14) and Travis Head (12) fighting to stabilize.
Justin Greaves dismissed Head for 16 in the 16.4th over, caught by Kevlon Anderson, a stunning grab that sparked celebrations. Alzarri struck twice in the 20th over, dismissing Beau Webster (13 off 18) and Alex Carey (0 off 3), both bowled, reducing Australia to 69/6. Green, unbeaten on 42 off 65 with six fours, and Pat Cummins (5* off 25) held firm, guiding Australia to 99/6 in 29 overs at stumps, a lead of 181 runs. Alzarri’s 3/19 in 8 overs and Shamar’s 2/26 in 9 overs led the charge, with Greaves (1/19) chipping in.
Australia’s run rate of 3.41 showed resilience, but the loss of six wickets in the session gave West Indies hope. Shamar Joseph was the standout for West Indies, finishing with 4/33 in the first innings and 2/26 in the second. His pace and movement under lights troubled Australia, notably dismissing Smith and Konstas. Boland’s 3/34 was crucial for Australia, breaking West Indies’ middle order, while Green’s unbeaten 42 kept Australia ahead. Alzarri Joseph’s fiery spell in the second innings, including the quick dismissals of Webster and Carey, highlighted his impact despite a back issue that forced him off earlier.
For the fans, the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day has to be the way West Indies’ pacers triggered a dramatic collapse in Australia’s second innings on Day 2 of the third Test at Kingston on July 13, 2025. Leading by 82 runs, Australia crumbled to 99/6 in 29 overs, losing 6 wickets in a fiery evening session under floodlights. Shamar Joseph struck first, dismissing Sam Konstas for a duck in the 1.5th over, caught by Roston Chase. He then bowled Usman Khawaja for 14 in the 5.5th over, leaving Australia at 19/2.
Alzarri Joseph joined the party, removing Steven Smith for 5 in the 8.6th over, bowled by a sharp in-swinger. Justin Greaves added to the chaos, getting Travis Head (16 off 24) caught by Kevlon Anderson in the 16.4th over. Alzarri’s double strike in the 20th over saw Beau Webster (13 off 18) and Alex Carey (0 off 3) bowled, reducing Australia to 69/6. Cameron Green’s unbeaten 42 off 65 kept them afloat, but Alzarri’s 3/19 and Shamar’s 2/26, with a run rate of 3.41, gave West Indies hope.
The man who is TCNI’s Hero of the Day, Scott Boland, delivered a match-defining performance on Day 2 of the third Test against West Indies at Kingston on July 13, 2025. His disciplined bowling tore through the West Indies’ batting, finishing with an impressive 3/34 in 13.1 overs, helping bowl them out for 143 in 52.1 overs. Boland struck early, dismissing John Campbell for 36 in the 35.1st over, trapping him lbw after a failed review, leaving West Indies at 82/4.
He returned to remove Shai Hope for 23 in the 46.3rd over, bowling him with a peach that nipped back, reducing the hosts to 124/6. Boland sealed the innings in the 52.1st over, bowling Shamar Joseph for 8, ensuring a 82-run lead for Australia. His economy rate of 2.58 and four maidens showcased his control on a pitch offering seam movement. Boland’s efforts, alongside Pat Cummins (2/24) and Josh Hazlewood (2/32), dismantled West Indies’ middle order, with his wickets proving pivotal in their collapse.
As Day 3 of the third Test between West Indies and Australia at Sabina Park, Kingston, approaches on July 14, 2025, the match is set for an exciting turn. Australia, leading 2-0 in the series after wins in Bridgetown and Grenada, are in a strong position with a 181-run lead at 99/6 in their second innings. They aim to secure a whitewash to strengthen their ICC World Test Championship standing (24 points, 100% PCT).
West Indies, yet to win and sitting at 0 points, are desperate to fight back and salvage pride in this pink-ball Test. On Day 3, expect Australia to rely heavily on Cameron Green, unbeaten on 42, and captain Pat Cummins to push their lead past 250. A target above 250 could be tough for West Indies, given their first-innings collapse to 143. The pitch, with its seam and bounce, especially under lights, will challenge batsmen, favoring Australia’s pace attack, including Mitchell Starc, who is close to 400 Test wickets.