Cricket: Starc fires early for Aussies

Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc
Australia have made a solid start to their knockout ODI clash with West Indies, reducing the hosts to 3-116 after 25 overs in Barbados.

Skipper Steve Smith opted to bowl first at Kensington Oval, knowing his side required a victory to advance to the tri-series final at the same venue on Monday.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood sliced through the top order, troubling West Indies with swing and bounce.

Darren Bravo, arguably West Indies' most polished batsman, plus openers Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher all departed as their side slipped to 3-31 in the ninth over.

But Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin have since fought back in an unbeaten stand worth 85 runs.

Smith plucked a ripping one-handed catch at slip to dismiss Bravo for 15 with the help of Hazlewood.

Starc removed both openers in his 50th ODI, moving his career tally to 97 wickets.

The left-armer is on the cusp of setting a new record by reaching 100 ODI scalps in record time.

Pakistan's Saqlain Mushtaq holds the current record, having achieved the feat in 53 matches in 1997.

Starc struck in the opening over of the match, with Smith holding a simple catch at second slip to dismiss Charles for a duck.

Fletcher showed the right temperament early on but was tempted by the 22nd ball he faced, guiding it straight to Mitch Marsh at gully.

Smith backed up some fine new-ball bowling with aggressive fields, keeping two slips in place for most of the opening hour and even opting for a short leg at times.

Smith unsuccessfully reviewed a caught-behind shout in the 16th over, when Samuels was on 12.

Australia named an unchanged XI, retaining paceman Scott Boland ahead of legspinner Adam Zampa.

Shannon Gabriel is making his ODI debut for the hosts, who dropped quick Jerome Taylor.

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