WI vs AUS, 1st ODI, Review: Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood run through hosts batting

A new-look Australia side defeated West Indies to start the three-match ODI series on a high. In the absence of Aaron Finch, Alex Carey led the visitors for the first time and opted to bat first after winning the toss. The debutants Josh Philippe and Ben McDermott got the team off to a decent start with the former taking the aggressive option.

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Akeal Hosein broke the 50-run stand while Mitchell Marsh, McDermott and Moises Henriques none could kick off after good starts. Australia were at 114/4 in the 26th over and this is when skipper Carey took control of the innings along with Ashton Turner. The duo added 104 runs for the fifth with the former slamming a brilliant half-century.

Carey got out on 67 while Turner scored 49 but both of them got out at the wrong time for Australia as they never really got the final kick in the death overs. They could eventually reach 252/9 in 49 overs and the target was later adjusted to 257 according to DLS method thanks to rain interruption. Hayden Walsh was the best bowler for West Indies as he returned with the magical figures of 5/39.

West Indies would've fancied themselves to chase down the score given the firepower in their batting. But Australia's new ball bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood had other ideas. They nipped out West Indies' six wickets for just 27 runs in 7.4 overs itself. Their skipper Kieron Pollard stood out in the middle in adverse times to score a half-century.

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But the task was too much for him and the tail-enders. Pollard battled for his 56 while Alzarri Joseph and Walsh scored 17 and 20 respectively. But it was never going to be enough and once Pollard got out, there were literally no hopes. Eventually, the Caribbeans were bundled out for 123 runs in the 27th over only with Starc ending with a sensational five-wicket haul. Hazlewood picked up 3/11 as Australia registered a strong 133-run win to take a lead in the series.

Brief Scores

Australia - 252/9 after 49 overs (A Carey 67; H Walsh 5/39)

West Indies - 126/10 after 26.2 overs (K Pollard 56; M Starc 5/48)

Australia won by 133 runs (by DLS method)