Windies slump to 277-run defeat to suffer series loss

Kingston (Jamaica), June 15 (IANS) West Indies extended their 16-year series losses against Australia after another disastrous batting display saw them crash to a heavy 277-run defeat in the second Test here, and a 0-2 drubbing in the two-match series.

Resuming on the penultimate day at 16/2 in pursuit of a highly improbable 392 for victory, the Caribbean side lost their last eight wickets for 98 runs on Sunday to be dismissed in their second innings for 114 - their lowest total in 15 years against Australia, reports CMC.

Captain Denesh Ramdin top-scored with 29 and tailender Veerasammy Permaul made 23 not out but they were the only ones to pass 20 and just two of four to reach double figures. Their stand of 49 for the eighth wicket was the best of the innings.

The Windies demise was set in motion when they lost five wickets in the morning session to crash to 72/7 at lunch, and the demolition was completed when Jerome Taylor missed a wild heave and was bowled by off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc was the best bowler with 3/34 while Lyon (2/12), pacer Josh Hazlewood (2/18) and left-armer Mitchell Johnson (2/23) all picked up two wickets each.

The result means West Indies have now lost every series against Australia since their 2-2 draw in the five-match rubber in the Caribbean back in 1999. More tellingly, they have won just one Test against their old foes since that series with Sunday’s defeat at Sabina Park being their 19th in 23 matches during that period.

Needing a miracle to survive, far less reach their target, West Indies suffered their first blow in the fifth over of the morning when Shane Dowrich, unbeaten on one overnight, played across Starc and had his off-stump disturbed after adding just three runs.

Left-hander Darren Bravo, unbeaten on eight at the start, followed just 20 balls later for 11, poking tentatively at one from Hazlewood and edging to gully where Shaun Marsh gobbled up the catch.

Wickets continued to tumble with Jermaine Blackwood bottom-edging Hazlewood onto his stumps without scoring and Shai Hope lasting for 16 before Johnson rattled his stumps.

Sliding quickly to 55/6, West Indies endured yet another setback when first innings hero Jason Holder was out softly, clipping a simple catch off an innocuous Shane Watson delivery to short mid-wicket.

Reeling at lunch, Ramdin and Permaul gathered runs quickly after the break. The stand ensured West Indies avoided the ignominy of being bowled out for below three figures and was growing nicely when Ramdin fell to a new Johnson spell, caught at slip by Clarke after lunch. He faced 74 balls and hit three fours.

Tottering on 111/8, the Windies’ end came swiftly as Lyon wrapped up the innings. He removed Kemar Roach for three to a catch at short-leg by Man-of-the-Match Steve Smith and then watched as Taylor threw caution to the winds first ball, and was bowled. West Indies lost the first Test at Windsor Park in Dominica last week by nine wickets.