WI crumble as ruthless Aus claim 1-0 Test series lead

Ruthless Australia hammered hosts West Indies in the 1st Test, courtesy of under-fire Josh Hazlewood, who picked up 5 wickets in the final innings of the match.

The brittle batting line-up of the host team failed to survive even 35 overs in the final innings of the match, getting bowled out in 33.4 overs, in front of a target of 301 runs.

West Indies' hero with the ball - young Shamar Joseph - played an entertaining knock of 44 (22 balls) but could not help the side chase the improbable target on a spicy wicket that was difficult to bat on throughout the Test match. After Hazlewood's 5-wicket haul, Nathan Lyon cleaned up the tail with 2 back-to-back wickets, handing Windies a defeat by 159 runs in the opening Test match of the series.

"There was enough in the wicket, up-and-down from a length," said Hazlewood, who finished with figures of five for 43.

"It's just about hitting that area time and time again and being patient. I'm just enjoying cricket, Tests at the moment. Good team, atmosphere.

"I think once we saw West Indies take the second new ball today, we thought things could happen, but not that fast. There are a few cracks on a length from one end, some went low and we got a few bowled and lbws."

Windies batters were simply not able to match the class of Hazlewood,

who was under fire from Mitchell Johnson ahead of this Test series

. Johnson had accused Hazlewood of prioritising the Indian Premier League over Test cricket, after Australia failed to defend their World Test Championship title against South Africa earlier in June.

On the 3rd day of the Test match, Hazlewood's victims included John Campbell (caught behind attempting a scoop), Brandon King (edging to gully first ball), Roston Chase (popping to short leg), and Keacy Carty (bowled by vicious seam movement), before completing his 13th Test five-wicket haul by having Warrican caught at slip.

Pat Cummins added Shai Hope's wicket with another delivery that kept fatally low, while substitute fielder Marnus Labuschagne's direct hit ran out Alzarri Joseph to underline Australia's superiority in all departments.