CRICKET-WOMEN-LEAD Matthews-less WI crash to humbling loss.

Captain Hayley Matthews was missing and so was West Indies Women's spark as they crashed to a humbling eight-wicket defeat to Australia Women in the opening One-Day International of the three-match series here Sunday.

Sent in, the Caribbean side collapsed to a hugely disappointing 83 in the 28th over, their lowest ever ODI total against the Aussies and their joint seventh lowest of all time.

With Matthews out with a muscle injury, only Aaliyah Alleyne showed any mettle with 35 from 39 deliveries with seven fours, stand-in captain Shemaine Campbelle (14) and former skipper Stafanie Taylor (12) the only other players to reach double figures.

Aaliyah Alleyne pulls during her top score of 35 for West Indies Women on Sunday.

Seamer Kim Garth led the hosts with three for eight while off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner (2-17) and leg-spinner Georgia Wareham (2-30) picked up two wickets apiece.

As expected in reply, Australia Women coasted to their target in the 15th over with captain Alyssa Healy top-scoring with 38 from 36 balls with seven fours, and Ellyse Perry finishing on 20 not out.

Healy put on 57 for the first wicket with Phoebe Litchfield (16) and when both perished in successive overs, Perry lashed four fours in a breezy 13-ball...