Returning Starc makes swift impact as Australia blow Windies away
Mitchell Starc enjoyed a successful return to action on Sunday as Australia comfortably beat West Indies by six wickets in the second match of the one-day international tri-series in the Caribbean.
The hosts had begun the tournament impressively with a six-wicket victory over South Africa in Guyana, but produced a dismal batting display to be dismissed for 116 at the same venue 48 hours later.
Starc marked his first outing since November, following a foot fracture, by picking up a wicket in the first over of the match en route to figures of 2-37, before spinners Nathan Lyon (3-39) and Adam Zampa (3-16) wreaked havoc on a sluggish surface.
West Indies’ paltry total never looked likely to prove competitive and Australia – who suffered a slight wobble late on – crossed the winning line with 24 overs unused as David Warner finished unbeaten on 55.
The fit-again Starc wasted little time in making an impact after Steve Smith inserted West Indies following a slight delay due to morning rain.
He’s baaaaaaack! #SuperStarc #WIvAUS pic.twitter.com/86WvdtXRMV
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) June 5, 2016
Andre Fletcher survived an lbw review on nought, but was soon dismissed during an eventful opening over as he sliced Starc straight to Glenn Maxwell at backward point.
Johnson Charles, dropped on five by a leaping Smith at first slip, shared 44 with Darren Bravo as the Windies sought to overcome their early setback.
Yet Bravo’s dismissal for 19, at the hands of Mitchell Marsh, triggered a woeful collapse.
A brilliant inswinging yorker from Starc accounted for top-scorer Charles (22) before Lyon struck with successive deliveries, trapping Marlon Samuels lbw before Kieron Pollard foolishly holed out to long-on first ball.
Maxwell got in on the act by pinning Denesh Ramdin in front and Zampa claimed three lower-order scalps either side of Lyon accepting a simple return catch to remove Sulieman Benn, with Carlos Brathwaite (21) the only man to offer any real resistance.
Australia were able to reach 54-1 before the interval, Aaron Finch (19) the only man to depart when he missed a straight one from Jason Holder.
Usman Khawaja (27) fell tamely to Benn with 32 runs required, while skipper Smith and Glenn Maxwell followed soon after at the hands of Sunil Narine in successive deliveries.
However, an untroubled Warner eventually completed the job alongside Marsh (9 not out).
