Half-centuries for Steve Smith and Nathan Coulter-Nile and a five-wicket haul for Mitchell Starc saw Australia defend their score of 288 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

Choosing to bowl, West Indies – just as they had done in their win against Pakistan last Friday (May 31) – attacked with the short ball.

The relatively inexperienced attack did not always have control, but they had pace and were winning the mind games when they had the defending champions reduced to 38-4, then 79-5.

Australia were held together by Smith, who made 73 and was only dismissed when Sheldon Cottrell pulled off a stunning catch at the ropes at deep backward-square.

Coulter-Nile, batting at number eight, was denied a hundred in a 60-ball 92, but he had done his job in a fantastic recovery that lifted Australia to 288 all out.

Chris Gayle reached 1,000 World Cup runs and survived two reviews before falling to the third, but with the spin of Adam Zampa added to the mix, the West Indies found themselves somewhat on the back foot at 99-3.

They were anchored by Shai Hope, who was disconsolate upon a tame dismissal for a 106-ball 68 just when he was discovering his timing, and it was left to captain Jason Holder and Carlos Brathwaite to try to knock off the runs.

Both fell, however, in the same over with Starc finding his accuracy to finish on 5-46 and help restrict the Windies to 272-9.

Australia have joined New Zealand on two wins from two matches and will face Pakistan on Wednesday (June 12).

West Indies, with one win and one defeat, take on South Africa on Monday (June 10).

Action is due to continue tomorrow when Pakistan meet Sri Lanka.