• Australia defeated West Indies in the first ODI by 8 wickets.

  • Xavier Bartlett was named Player of the Match for his splendid bowling performance.

Twitter reactions: Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Xavier Bartlett star as Australia thrash West Indies in 1st ODI
Australia beat West Indies in 1st ODI (Image Source: Twitter)

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In an exciting encounter at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia asserted their dominance over the West Indies in the opening match of the ODI series. The hosts ended up registering a comfortable triumph with eight wickets in hand.

West Indies’ batting struggles

Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Australia’s decision paid dividends as they restricted the visitors to 231 runs in 48.4 overs. The West Indies batting lineup faced a stern test against the disciplined Australian bowling attack. Despite a valiant effort from Keacy Carty, who scored a resilient 88 runs off 108 balls, the rest of the batting order failed to capitalize on starts.

Roston Chase‘s contribution of 59 runs off 67 deliveries provided some stability, but the West Indies ultimately faltered as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Xavier Bartlett’s bowling masterclass

Xavier Bartlett emerged as the pick of the Australian bowlers, wreaking havoc with his impressive figures of 4 wickets for just 17 runs in 9 overs. Supported by Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, and Adam Zampa, the Australian bowling unit exhibited superb control and consistency to keep the West Indies batters in check throughout the innings.

Steve Smith, Cameron Green lead Australia’s clinical chase

Chasing a target of 232 runs for victory, Australia showcased their batting prowess with a commanding display. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis set the tone with a brisk innings of 65 runs off 43 balls, laying a solid foundation for the chase. All-rounder Green’s patient knock of 77 runs off 104 balls and skipper Steve Smith‘s composed 79 runs off 79 balls ensured that Australia cruised to victory with 8 wickets in hand and 11.3 overs to spare.

Despite their best efforts, the West Indies bowlers struggled to contain the Australian batters on a batting-friendly surface. Gudakesh Motie managed to pick up a wicket, but the rest of the bowling attack failed to make significant inroads into the Australian batting lineup.

Also WATCH: Xavier Bartlett bowls an absolute peach to dismiss Justin Greaves in 1st ODI – AUS vs WI

Here is how Twitter reacted:

Also READ: AUS vs WI 2024 – West Indies’ best playing XI for the ODI series against Australia

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AKSHAT GAUR
Akshat is the Sr. Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Akshat has honed his skills over 6 years, working with various media outlets, publications, and organizations to deliver high-quality content that informs, educates, and entertains audiences. He is just another cricket fan who’s grown up watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Cricket runs in his veins. Cover drive is his favorite sight, and a ball meeting the middle of the bat is his favorite sound. You can write to him at akshat.gaur@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.