Bridgetown (Barbados), June 28 (UNI) In a match that ebbed and flowed, it was Australia who emerged victorious against West Indies in the opening Test of the three-match series in Bridgetown.

While the win may not erase the heartbreak of Lord’s just two weeks ago, it marks a positive start to their World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, with their first points now on the board.

There was little to separate the sides after the first two innings – just 10 runs, in fact. Jayden Seales’ five-wicket haul helped bowl Australia out for 180, before a disciplined all-round effort from the Australian bowlers restricted West Indies to 190, giving the hosts a slender lead.

Australia found themselves in trouble at 65/4 after another top-order collapse, but the middle-order trio of Travis Head, Beau Webster and Alex Carey steadied the ship with crucial half-centuries.

Head and Webster put together a 102-run stand, with Head playing the aggressor. After Head’s dismissal, Carey took charge, highlighted by two brilliant straight sixes off Seales and Justin Greaves.

"I thought those three were brilliant," Australia skipper Pat Cummins said at the post-match press conference. "They kept the scoreboard ticking over. I thought they took really good options. They were always looking to score.

“Really, that was the difference. [You are] turning up today thinking that if we didn't get a big lead it was 50-50, really. Those guys took the game away from West Indies."

Cummins was particularly impressed by Beau Webster, who, despite having played just five Tests, has already built a reputation for digging Australia out of tough spots with grit and composure on challenging surfaces.

On debut against India, the 31-year-old made an instant impact, scoring a half-century on a spicy Sydney pitch in the first innings and following it up with a brisk unbeaten 39 in their victorious chase.

In the World Test Championship Final against South Africa, Webster stood tall with a counter-attacking 72 off 92 balls, the top score in Australia’s first-innings total of 212.

Against West Indies, he once again proved pivotal, anchoring two key partnerships in the second innings with a composed 63 off 120 balls that turned the tide in Australia’s favour. He also made an impact with the ball, claiming two wickets in the first innings.

"I think it's pretty much the same as what he does for Tasmania," Cummins said on Webster. "He seems to always contribute in some way. He's kind of knocked down the door with his performances over the years in Shield cricket. It's great when you've got someone like that coming to the team.

“They know their craft so well and you saw that today, even on a tricky wicket, he knew where his areas to score were. He's been a fantastic asset to the team over the last six months."

After setting West Indies a target of 301, Australia needed just one session and under 34 overs to seal the win, dismantling the hosts for 141. Leading the charge was the ever-reliable Josh Hazlewood, who delivered a brilliant five-wicket haul to cap off the dominant performance.

UNI RKM