Twitter Reactions: Mitchell Starc’s fifer helps Australia maul West Indies in opener

After the 1-4 defeat in the T20Is, Australia got off to a stupendous start in the three-match ODI series against the West Indies. The team, led by Alex Carey, won by 133 runs- DL Method- at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Moreover, they also took an all-important 1-0 lead in the series.

Carey, Walsh Jr shine

After electing to bat first, Australia started steadily courtesy of a 51-run stand for the opening wicket between Josh Philippe and Ben McDermott. However, both of them got out after getting starts. Mitchell Marsh scored 20, and couldn’t carry on either. Moises Henriques tasted failure as well.

Thereafter, a 104-run stand between Carey and Ashton Turner brought Australia back into the contest. Carey went on to score an 87-ball 67 before Hayden Walsh Jr got rid of him. The latter also dismissed Turner for 49 and took a five-wicket haul. The Aussies ended with 252 in 49 overs.

Pollard shows his class

Chasing the revised target of 257, West Indies got off to the worst possible start as Mitchell Starc nipped out Evin Lewis for a golden duck. From there on, the Caribbean batting crumbled like a house of cards. In only 7.4 overs, the hosts were reduced to 27 for six as the Aussie bowlers dictated terms.

Kieron Pollard gave the home team something to cheer for as he scored 56 off 57 with the help of five fours and three sixes. He was involved in a 68-run stand with Alzarri Joseph. In the end, West Indies were shot out for 123 in 26.2 overs. Starc got the Player of the Match award for his fifer.

Pollard, the West Indies skipper, showed disappointment after his team was unable to show any fight while chasing. Carey, on the other hand, was over the moon. He was overjoyed on tasting victory in his maiden appearance as the Australian national captain.

Alex Carey overjoyed

“I think we did pretty well with the ball. Par score here is 260-270 and being able to restrict them to 250 was a fantastic effort. It is what it is. My biggest thing is I want the guys to fight. We have practiced long and hard enough. The most disappointing factor is we didn’t show fight,” Pollard said.

“Yeah, it was (special). Not only for me but the three other guys on debut. Obviously, the two quicks up front were pretty special as well. I wouldn’t say I made it look easy (the pitch), maybe Ashton did. For us to adapt and put on the score on the board which we thought was competitive, and then the way the powerplay went for us was fantastic,” Babar said.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to Australia’s win:

8th five-wicket haul for Mitchell Starc from 97 ODI matches, he also has 11 four-wicket hauls. The opening spell was just total fire. #WIvAUS pic.twitter.com/KMgl4cR5Zh

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 21, 2021

Say what you want about him in other formats, Mitchell Starc in ODI cricket is already at Legend level #WIvAUS

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) July 21, 2021

The enigma that is Mitchell Starc – can rip out the top order in no time, but goes for 13 in an over against the tenth wicket pair! Spectacular removal of JMohammed a special moment. Seems to have his rhythm atm, bodes well for the near future. #mercurial

— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) July 21, 2021

Mitchell Starc is doing that thing with the white ball again#WIvAUS

— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) July 20, 2021

This is the FIRST time both a pacer and a spinner took a five-wicket haul in the same men's ODI match.

Hayden Walsh🏝️ 10-0-39-5
Mitchell Starc🇦🇺 8-1-48-5#WIvAUS

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) July 21, 2021

Mitchell Starc, the ODI bowler, stands redeemed. I mean, he's basically statpadding wickets against Windies, but that's as good as you'd expect Starc to be.

— कारे बारे 🚩🇮🇳 (@sh_atyagi) July 21, 2021

Mitchell Starc now has more 5-wicket hauls in ODIs than Glenn McGrath.

List:-

13: Waqar Younis
10: Muralitharan
09: Brett Lee
09: Shahid Afridi
08: Mitchell Starc*
08: Lasith Malinga
07: Glenn McGrath#WIvAUS

— Bibekananda Sahu (@IamBibeka) July 21, 2021

Mitchell Starc in ODI Cricket is already a legend.

— Sanjaya Neupane (@Barbarik177) July 21, 2021

It’s been a while since these two faced each other. Nearly 5 years now since the we saw Mitchell Starc v Kieron Pollard #WIvAUS pic.twitter.com/zXL0JFQE2w

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) July 21, 2021

Never doubt a raging spark…
He fires back as always, Mitchell Starc…!!! 🔥🔥🙌#ausvswi pic.twitter.com/lWfO4n3f2E

— The Red Cherry 🏏 (@Redcherrytweets) July 21, 2021