Mitch Owen has capitalised on his first opportunity in Australian colours, leading the team to an opening-game win with a 27-ball half-century.
Owen's innings included six maximums and was complemented by Cameron Green's 51 off 26 balls.
Owen's innings continues his excellent form with the bat. Many will recall his heroics in the 2024/25 Big Bash League Grand Final, making a hundred off just 39 balls.
The strong debut also comes off the back of being named player-of-the-tournament in the United States' Major League Cricket.
"I did not know if I was going to come here to play or to run drinks but it was nice to get the call-up [yesterday] and nice to contribute to a good win," Mitch Owen said to cricket.com.au.
"It was a lot of fun [batting with Cameron Green]. It was the first time I've been on the same side as ‘Greeny'. So it was nice to be out there with him and contribute to a pretty good partnership."
The Windies were the first to bat and initially seemed like they would set an imposing total.
After ten overs, the hosts were 1/103, and reached 2/159 before losing six wickets for just thirty runs at the end of their innings.
Ben Dwarshius had a concerning start with the ball, conceding 21 runs from two overs. He stayed in the fight and ended with 4/36 after claiming three wickets in four balls in the innings' second-last over.
Most bowlers were expensive, with Sean Abbott ending with an economy rate of 10 off his four overs. Nathan Ellis (one wicket) and Adam Zampa (no wickets) were able to slightly stem the Windies onslaught with economy rates of 7.75 and 7.5, respectively, on a ground with short boundaries.
Tasked with chasing down a respectable Windies total, captain Mitch Marsh got the innings off to a solid start, registering 24 off 17 balls.
Jake Fraser-McGurk failed to capitalise on his unexpected call-up following an injury to Matt Short. He only managed two runs off his seven balls at the crease.
Owen hit spinner Akeal Hosein out of the ground, with the ball landing under a parked bus in an over that yielded 20 runs for Australia and three sixes.
Dwarshius and Abbott were responsible for getting Australia across the line. Abbott was dropped at the end of the 18th over, making for a nervous end to the game. They reached the total with seven balls to spare.
Ultimately, Owen and Green's innings were enough for Australia to make it across the line in a competitive match.
Australia and the West Indies meet for the second game of the five-game T20I series on July 26 in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
