Starc destroys West Indies

Australia’s Mitchell Starc claimed five wickets as the West Indies were bundled out for just 70 on their way to an embarrassing defeat in the first one-day international here on Friday.

Australia made light of the feeble score -- the West Indies’ third-lowest ODI total -- romping to victory in just 9.2 overs for the loss of one wicket.

Left-armer Starc snared five wickets for 20 runs as the tourists imploded after winning the toss and electing to bat in the first game of the five-match series.

The tourists’ score was well short of Australia’s 91 against the West Indies at the same venue in 1987, the previous lowest total at the WACA Ground. The home side put their opponents’ performance into context when they came out to bat, with Glenn Maxwell smashing 51 off 35 balls. Usman Khawaja, dropped before he scored, was unbeaten on eight.

When the West Indies slumped to 19/5 after Starc claimed his fourth wicket in eight balls, they appeared in grave danger of falling short of their lowest ever tally of 54, against South Africa in 2004.

Darren Bravo’s dismissal for 11 left them 39/7 before captain Darren Sammy contributed 16 in a stand of 26 for the eighth wicket with debutant Jason Holder.

Sammy was the top-scorer with the bat, his tally only eclipsed by the 17 extras Australia conceded. Clint McKay (3/10) started the rot for the tourists when he claimed the prize scalp of big-hitting opener Chris Gayle, caught by Aaron Finch at second slip for just four.

Score board

 WEST INDIES
Gayle c Finch b McKay    4
Powell c Clarke b Starc     11
Sarwan b Starc     0
DM Bravo c Clarke b Faulkner     11
DJ Bravo c Hughes b Starc     0
Pollard b Starc     0
Thomas c Clarke b Faulkner     3
Sammy c Bailey b McKay     16
Holder b Starc     7
Narine c Wade b McKay     0
Roach (not out)     1
Extras: (W-8, LB-3, W-6)     17
Total (all out, 23.5 overs)     70
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-18, 3-19, 4-19, 5-19, 6-28, 7-39, 8-65, 9-68.
Bowling: McKay 7-3-10-3, Starc 6.5-2-20-5, Faulkner 5-1-14-2, Johnson 5-0-15-0.
AUSTRALIA
Maxwell (not out)     51
Finch c Thomas b Holder     10
Khawaja (not out)     8
Extras: (W-2)     2
Total: (one wkt, 9.2 overs)     71
Fall of wickets: 1-39.
Bowling: Roach 2-0-29-0, Holder 4.2-0-18-1, Narine 3-0-24-0.