An 80-run partnership between Cameron Green and debutant Mitch Owen has led Australia to a three-wicket victory over the West Indies with seven balls to spare in the first of five T20Is at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
The Windies made 8-189, a total that would have been much higher had Ben Dwarshuis not taken three wickets in four balls in the penultimate over to put the brakes on the hosts' impressive charge.
Australia lost Jake Fraser-McGurk for just 2 in the second over of the chase, and regular wickets thereafter.
But half centuries to Owen and Green pushed down the required rate enough so that even with some late wobbles Australia had enough composure to see the chase to its conclusion.
[SUmmary]Having lost the toss and being put in to bat, the Windies wasted no time in belting the Australian quicks to all corners of Sabina Park in Kingston.
The hosts scored 32 runs in the first three overs, with Brandon King belting 18 off 10 balls off Ben Dwarshuis and Sean Abbott.
A clever bowling change from Mitch Marsh saw 21-year-old left arm spinner Cooper Connolly introduced in the power play, having King stumped for 18.
Still, the Windies ended the powerplay on 1-56, with Shai Hope and Roston Chase taking a liking to the Aussie bowling, combing for a 91-run partnership off just 55 balls.
Chase bought up his half century in just 25 balls — his fastest half century in T20 cricket, before holing out to Glenn Maxwell on the long off boundary for 60 off the bowling of Dwarshuis.
Hope continued where he left off though, reaching his seventh T20I half century off 37 balls with a remarkable one-handed six down the ground off Adam Zampa.
Owen's first ball in international cricket was wildly scooped over fine leg for an enormous six by Shimron Hetmyer. But, with his third ball, he had his first international wicket, a slower ball deceiving Hope, who skied the ball to Jake Fraser-McGurk for 55.
The hosts looked in great shape to pass 200, but Dwarshuis' three wickets in the 19th over put the brakes on the Windies assault.
Andre Russell (8) was caught superbly by Cameron Green on the long off boundary, before Sherfane Rutherford (0) top-edged a hook to deep backward square leg next ball.
Jason Holder (0) saw out the hat-trick ball but then found Maxwell at long off.
Hetmyer's 19-ball assault ended on 38, as Green reached up to claim a flat drive off the bowling of Nathan Ellis as the West Indies were held to just 6-37 in the last five overs to finish 8-189.
Set 190 to win, Australia's chase got off to a poor start, Fraser-McGurk mis-hitting Jason Holder to Alzarri Joseph for 2 off 7 balls in the second over.
March hit three enormous sixes in his 17-ball 24 before he feathered Alzarri Joseph behind to wicketkeeper Shai Hope, given out on review, while Inglis (18 off 8) top edged Akeal Hosein to Joseph at short fine leg.
Maxwell came, flashed his bat, and then went for a 10-ball 11 as spinner Gudakesh Motie struck in his very first over.
However, Green and Owen rebuilt the innings, hitting 80 runs in 40 balls together in the middle. They took Australia from 4-78 to 5-158 and needing just 32 off 30 balls to win.
Green reached his 50 off 25 balls but, off the very next delivery skied a Gudakesh Motie delivery to Holder, who took a comfortable catch.
Owen showed his enormous hitting potential by smashing three sixes in Hosein's final over. He reached his maiden international half century off just 26 balls with another enormous six off Joseph.
However, he too holed out at long on the very next ball after reaching his milestone.
Connelly got off the mark by belting Chase onto the roof behind his head with a monstrous shot, only to edge behind to Hope with Australia requiring single digits in the 18th over.
Sub fielder Joel Andrew should have added to Australia's nerves at the last, only to show the Windies appalling catching was not limited to their Test side dropping a dolly at deep backwards square leg that would have dismissed Abbott and left Australia needing six with just two wickets remaining.
Sean Abbott (5) and Dwarshuis (5) were able to complete the victory, with the second match also at Sabina Park on Wednesday.
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