Aussies cruise to Test win over Windies

Australia have claimed a comprehensive nine-wicket win over the West Indies in the first Test in Dominica.

The tourists easily chased down the 47 required for victory late on day three to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Steve Smith (5no) hit the winning runs, as Australia raced to the small target in just five overs.

David Warner was dismissed just before victory was sealed, caught at slip off the bowling of Jerome Taylor (1-22) following a 20-ball 28 which including three fours and two sixes.

Shaun Marsh was the other unbeaten batsman, finishing on 13.

Australia set up their win by dismissing the hosts for 216 in their second innings, claiming 7-35 either side of tea in a spectacular collapse.

The Windies had given themselves a glimmer of hope when debutant Shane Dowrich (70) and Marlon Samuels (74) added 144 for the fourth-wicket to erase the 170-run first innings deficit.

Their stand was the sixth-highest fourth-wicket partnership for the West Indies against Australia in the Caribbean.

Dowrich’s dismissal before tea however sparked a flurry of wickets.

The 23-year-old was caught off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood (2-17) by Shane Watson just as Australia would have been getting nervous about being set a challenging total on a wearing Windsor Park pitch.

From there it was one-way traffic with Mitchell Starc taking 3-2 off three overs with the second new ball as he wrapped up the tail to finish with 4-28.

None of the West Indies batsmen apart from Samuels and Dowrich could pass 20 as the Australian bowlers’ patience and discipline eventually brought rewards.

Nathan Lyon, who bowled six maidens and conceded just one run in his opening seven-over spell, drew level with Hugh Trumble as Australia’s most successful off-spinner when his good work finally drew success in the final session.

Lyon now has 141 Test wickets after finishing with 2-67 in the Windies’ second innings.

Mitchell Johnson (2-38) also picked up two wickets, including the prize scalp of Samuels, the 34-year-old caught on the fine leg boundary for the second time in the Test.

The second Test in Jamaica begins on June 11.

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