Days after winning the ODI series against England, India beat West Indies by 3 runs in the 1st India vs West Indies ODI to lead the series 1-0. Invited to bat first, India posted a huge score of 308/7 with captain Shikhar Dhawan’s well-crafted 97.
Earlier in the game, West Indies won the toss and opted to bowl first which proved to be a wrong decision as Indian batters amused the hosts with a giant score. They scored 73 runs in the first 10 overs. The top-order batsmen all managed to score runs to get a big total and build a great opposition at the beginning itself.
Openers Dhawan and Gill’s partnership pull off the team to a 3-run win over West Indies. Dhawan scored near a century, 97 off 99 balls, including 10 boundaries and 3 sixes. Shubman Gill’s ODI comeback was marked by a classy 64 off 63, which shared a 119 partnership. Gill was very comfortable against the fast bowlers and also attractive playing the cover drives. It was Gill’s maiden ODI fifty on his 4th game itself. A brilliant direct hit from West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran dismissed him in the 18th over. Otherwise, the duo may lead the score up to 350.
Shreyas Iyer’s 54 and Deepak Hooda’s 28 were also added to the list. Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav dissipate the best opportunity to create an impact in the first match. Indian batting started crumbling when it comes to the final 10 overs. However, India managed to cross 300 runs. West Indies pacers started some good bowling and restricted India on 308 runs.
In return, chasing a record target at The Oval, West Indies could only manage to score 305 for 6 in 50 overs. West Indies make a strenuous effort in the chase by Shepherd and Hosein but failed by a very small margin at the end. They showed that they can bat under pressure, but no one from the top order managed to score much in the match.
Kyle Mayers top scored from the host’s side by 75 runs off 68 balls. The chase continued with Sharmarh Brooks’ 46, Brandon King’s 54, and Romeo Shepherd’s 39. Prasidh Krishna was punished by captain Nicholas Pooran (25 off 26) with two flat sixes over deep square leg and deep mid-wicket. Indian bowlers got wickets frequently and they managed to see off the opposition. Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Takur, and Yuzvendra Chahal claimed two wickets in the game.
Earlier in the chase, Shardul Takur removed the duo Mayers and Brooks to reintroduce team India back to the game. India was on the verge of failing when the hosts required 90 runs off the final 60 balls with the 56-run partnership of King and Akeal Hosein. However, Yuzvendra Chahal made an important breakthrough when it mattered the most. Mohammed Siraj managed to stop the frenzied Romario Shepherd in the final over to not chase the 15-run target.
Captain Shikhar Dhawan got the Player-of-the-match award and says he is happy to score runs but disappointed on missing the century. He added that they needed partnership in the beginning to score more, and it won’t be easy for the inexperienced middle-orders. Also, he admits they used the bigger side as much as possible. They want to keep on learning and make themselves better for the next match.
On the other hand, West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran says it feels like a win for them, a bitter-sweet match. They wanted to play the 50 overs and they did it. They showed what they are capable of. The bowlers did a good job in the second innings and he considers it a good sign after the Bangladesh series. West Indies will surely look forward to level the series in the next match. The second ODI will be played on Sunday, 24th June at the Queen’s Park Oval.
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