PERTH, Dec 4 (AP)
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon took six wickets to ensure Australia retained the Frank Worrell Trophy as they thrashed West Indies by 164 runs on the fifth and final day of the first cricket Test here on Sunday. With this victory, Australia has taken a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series. Lyon took six for 128 as the West Indies were bowled out for 333 at tea, chasing Australia’s target of 498. Lyon took five or more wickets in an innings for the 21st time in his 111th Test. Lyon has 446 wickets in Test cricket and has reached the eighth position in the list of most successful bowlers of all time. Among Australian bowlers, only Shane Warne (708 wickets in 145 Tests) and Glenn McGrath (563 wickets in 124 matches) have taken more Test wickets than him, who are second and sixth respectively on the all-time list. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite was the team’s top scorer with 110 runs. Roston Chase (55) and Alzarri Joseph (43) played useful innings down the order to reduce the margin of defeat for the West Indies. The duo extended Australia’s wait for victory by adding 82 runs for the eighth wicket. After lunch, the West Indies batsmen batted for another 85 minutes. Part-time spinner Travis Head (2/25) broke his partnership with Chase by bowling Joseph. Lyon then dismissed Chase and Kemar Roach (0) in consecutive balls to ensure Australia’s victory. Chase handed a catch to Mitchell Starc while Roach was bowled. The West Indies team has not beaten Australia since May 2003 when Brian Lara’s captaincy defeated Steve Waugh’s team. If the second Test will be played from December 8, then there will be a day-night match.
