Australia crush West Indies by 9 wickets in 1st ODI

Paceman Mitchell Starc helped consign West Indies to their third lowest total in one-day internationals as Australia's top order needed less than 10 overs to race to a nine-wicket victory at the WACA on Friday.

Man-of-the-match Starc captured five wickets for 20 and burly quick Clint McKay returned figures of 3-10 as the tourists were skittled for 70, having won the toss and elected to bat first on a baking hot day.

Australia's response was short and brutal with opener Glenn Maxwell blasting an unbeaten 51 and Usman Khawaja finishing on eight not out after pushing the winning single to wrap up victory in the opener of the five-match series.

"I was given a job to do and i just went out and did it," Maxwell said in a television interview after his swashbuckling knock of nine fours and two sixes.

"Was glad to get the boys across the line."

Aaron Finch was the only Australian wicket to fall, caught behind for 10 off the bowling of Jason Holder.

Starc took full advantage of some devilish bounce and movement to rout the tourists' top order with four wickets in eight balls and wrapped up the innings in less than 24 overs with his fifth.

"It's nice when things come together and you get on a bit of a roll," Starc said. "It's nice when it swings, I tried to keep it nice and smooth. There was enough in the deck, we knew if we put the ball in the right place, we'd get something out of it."

Reduced to 39-7 at the drinks break, the tourists flirted with their all-time lowest one-day total of 54 but captain Darren Sammy combined with paceman Jason Holder for a 26-run partnership to avert the humiliation.

As it was, they slumped to their lowest one-day total against Australia. "We didn't react properly to the swing and the seam," admitted Sammy.

... contd.

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