New Delhi: Highest total chased at the Queen’s Park Oval was 272, but yesterday West Indies looked like they will break the record. India and West Indies fought in a close encounter where India won the first ODI by just 3 runs. A less experienced Indian side led by Shikhar Dhawan managed to take a 1-0 lead in the last-over thriller. West Indies continued their losing streak with a seventh consecutive loss in ODIs.
India’s top order shines as teams posts a 300+ total
India missed out on their new vice-captain Ravindra Jadeja as he was reportedly having a niggle and West Indies managed to win the toss and elected to field first. Shikhar Dhawan opened along with Shubhman Gill and they posted a massive 119 runs partnership in just 17.4 overs. Gill got run out by Windies’ captain Nicholas Pooran after scoring 64 off 53 balls. Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer took the charge and posted another great partnership. The pitch was looking easy to bat on. It was Gudakesh Motie who broke the 94 runs partnership. Dhawan was dismissed for 97(99) as he missed a well-deserved century.
After Dhawan’s wicket, Indian teams saw a middle-order collapse as from 213/2, the score went to 252/5. Then it was Deepak Hooda and Axar Patel who helped India to reach a total of 308/7 in their 50-overs inning.
Kyle Mayers leads the chase, lower order contributes
India started well as Mohammed Siraj dismissed Shai Hope for 7(18) as the opening partnership lasted just 16 runs. Then it was Kyle Mayers who, along with Shamarh Brooks, posted a great partnership. Mayers played an aggressive inning and brought his maiden ODI half-century in just 42 balls. At first, it looked like the spinners will slow the batsmen down, but Mayers and Brooks were in a different zone. Then they took on Shardul Thakur, who went on to dismiss both of them in back-to-back overs. A short ball outside off and Brooks gave a catch to Iyer standing in the deep square leg to get out for 46(61). Mayers got an outside edge to give a catch to Samson as he got out on a score of 75(68).
India seemed to have made a comeback, but Brandon King and captain Nicholas Pooran posted a 51-run stand. Siraj and Chahal struck to dismiss Pooran and Rowman Powell as the hosts were 196/5 in the 37th over after having a great start.
When West Indies was supposed to be on the backfoot, Brandon King took the charge with Akeal Hosein and posted a 56-run partnership before Chahal dismissed King in the 45th over. The game was not over yet, the Windies required 57 runs in 5.3 overs when Romario Shepherd arrived. Hosein scoring 32 run-a-ball and Shepherd hitting 39 off 25 balls managed to take the game deep into the final over but fell 4 runs short of a win. Siraj, Thakur and Chahal took 2 wickets each to halt the Windies’ chase.
West Indies, who was being criticised for losing consecutively and not being able to play the full quota of 50-overs, showed a fighting spirit. Shikhar Dhawan was named the ‘Player of the Match’ for his inning which ended 3 runs shy of the century.
2nd ODI
The second ODI on India’s tour to West Indies will be played on July 24 and will begin at 7 pm IST. The stadium remains unchanged as all three ODI will be played in Port of Spain.
