Shane Watson starred with both bat and ball as Australia claimed an eight-wicket victory in the opening Twenty20 international against the West Indies on Tuesday.

Watson belted 69 off just 43 balls after conceding a mere 16 runs off his four overs with the ball as Australia cruised to a victory target of 151 with 11 balls to spare at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia.

Batting first the West Indies made a steady in unspectacular start, with Kieron Pollard providing some big-hitting in the final few overs to lift their total to 7-150.

Pollard smashed an unbeaten 54 off just 26 deliveries, scoring the fastest half-century by a West Indian in T20 cricket in the process.

The big allrounder managed five sixes in his knock, including two off two balls in Xavier Doherty’s third over.

But Watson (1-16) and Dan Christian (3-27) did the job with the ball to restrict the damage in a total that proved nowhere near enough.

The Windies made the perfect start with the ball, dismissing David Warner (0) in the first over before Watson and Michael Hussey (59no off 45) added 108 for the second wicket to put Australia in charge.

Watson emulated Pollard’s innings, clobbering six sixes and five fours in his knock before falling in the 13th over.

But captain George Bailey (21no) combined with Hussey in a well-constructed 45-run stand to close out the win with Bailey smashing a four off the first ball of the penultimate over to seal victory.

The two-match series finishes in Bridgetown, Barbados on Friday.