Australia bounced back from an awful start to beat West Indies by 15 runs in their Cricket World Cup match at Trent Bridge on Friday (NZ time).
After Australia recovered from 38/4 early in their batting innings to post 288, paceman Mitchell Starc claimed figures of 5/44 and took wickets at crucial times to wrap up the win.
- Blackcaps stagger to victory over plucky Bangladesh
- CWC Power Rankings - Upsets wreak havoc in opening week
Nathan Coulter-Nile had earlier been the hero with the bat for Australia, clubbing 92 off just 60 balls, after Steve Smith (73) and Alex Carey stabilised the first innings.
Starc and Pat Cummins then put Australia on the front foot with the ball, removing openers Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle in the first five overs.
Starc got the dangerous Gayle at the third time of asking on 21, after the Jamaican twice successfully reviewed lbw and caught behind decisions.
But the 39-year-old was still unlucky on two counts. The previous ball should have been a no-ball to create a free hit, while his third review only failed on the basis of an "umpire's call".
Starc twice returned to rip the heart out of the West Indies line-up late in the chase and keep Australia undefeated.
He claimed the prized scalp of the powerful Andre Russell for 15, before taking the wickets of Carlos Brathwaite and Jason Holder in the same over, just as the match swung in the Windies' favour.
Needing 37 from 27 balls, Brathwaite tried to take on a Starc slower ball, but only succeeded in skying it to Aaron Finch at mid-on, before Holder pulled him to short fine leg.
Cummins also produced with his 3/40, including three maiden overs and the key wicket of Shai Hope for 68 as the right-hander aimed to anchor the West Indies' innings.
Adam Zampa also bowled with great control and had Nicholas Pooran (40) caught at point off a well-flighted ball.
The result had looked unlikely, after Australia lost four wickets inside the first eight overs of the morning, and Smith and Coulter-Nile were forced to begin their recovery mission.
Coulter-Nile's 92 included four sixes and was the highest score by a lower-order batsman in World Cup history.
The pair looked far more comfortable against the much-vaunted West Indies short-pitched approach than the top order.
Usman Khawaja was roughed up with two body blows, before he was caught behind backing away and trying to drive Andre Russell.
Glenn Maxwell's dismissal was no better, skying a pull shot off Cottrell straight to wicketkeeper Hope for a second-ball duck.
Aaron Finch and David Warner had also fallen earlier, Finch nicking off to a good Oshane Thomas delivery, before Warner was caught at backward point slashing at Cottrell (2/56).
AAP
Join us at 12:30am Sunday for live updates of the Blackcaps v Afghanistan Cricket World Cup clash
