GROS ISLET: Veterans Shane Watson and Michael Hussey eased Australia to victory in the first Twenty20 international with hosts West Indies here on Tuesday.
Both Watson and Hussey hit half centuries with the former - who stood in as skipper for injured captain Michael Clarke during the one day series but stepped down for this format - scoring 69.
Hussey was unbeaten on 59 as the tourists coasted to victory with 11 balls remaining thanks to a fine century partnership by him and Watson after opener David Warner was out for a duck.
After electing to bat, the West Indies had made 150-7 in the first of the two-match series against Australia at Beausejour Cricket Ground.
The modest total owed much to a swashbuckling 26-ball knock of 54 from Kieron Pollard that featured two fours and five sixes -- four of those coming off consecutive balls in the 16th and 17th overs -- and off 20 balls was the fastest half century by a West Indian batsman in this format.
He beat former West Indies captain Chris Gayle's half century off 23 balls against Australia in 2009.
Daniel Christian was the tourists' most effective bowler, taking three wickets for 27 runs.
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy had hit a blistering 84 in the final match of the one-day series two days ago, but he fell for just seven, misjudging a heave down the ground off Brett Lee that was easily caught by David Hussey.
Australia prevailed by 30 runs in the final one-day international to level the five-match series at 2-2.
Christian came into the Twenty20 team alongside James Pattinson, with George Bailey taking over the captaincy for the shortest format from Watson.
The West Indies were without Andre Russell, who was ruled out after battling a hamstring injury during the one-day series.
It is the first time the West Indies have played a T20 international for five months and for both sides the main concern is to get in some crucial practice ahead of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September.
The second Twenty20 match is in Bridgetown on Friday.
