Team India picked up a narrow 3-run win against West Indies in the opening clash of the three-match ODI series at the Queen’s Park Oval on Friday, July 22.
India tallies a win in the opening clash
West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran had won the toss and opted to bowl against India. It was worth noting that Ravindra Jadeja, India’s vice-captain for the series, has been ruled out of the first two games due to injury. The Men in Blue headed into this series with a second-string squad, and the likes of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah are few of the absentees. However, there are few players like Suryakumar Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, and skipper Shikhar Dhawan who entered the fray.
Shikhar Dhawan played a captain’s knock of a brilliant 97 runs, while Shubman Gill smashed 64 runs. Shreyas Iyer also made a crucial contribution of 54 runs. These helped India post 308 for 7 in the first ODI of the three-match series against West Indies on Friday.
It was Gudakesh Motie, who struck in quick succession to dismiss both the set batters Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer to bring West Indies in the game. Dhawan and Iyer stitched 94 runs for the second wicket. Earlier, Shubman Gill lost his wicket on 64 runs after adding 119 runs with Dhawan for the opening wicket. Though Gill got run out, Dhawan kept India in control against the hosts until he too walked back to the pavilion.
Chasing 309 runs, Brandon King and Akeal Hosein had kept West Indies’s hopes alive in the hunt. Pacer Shardul Thakur had dismissed Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks in quick succession to turn the tide in India’s favor. The hosts struggled against the bowling attack.
After Mohammed Siraj dismissed Shai Hope on 7 runs, Mayers kept Windies in the hunt before he lost his wicket on 75. Sharmarh Brooks fell four runs short of his half century as Thakur dismissed him as well, while, Brandon King notched 54 runs before getting dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal. All the efforts went futile as India managed to restrict their opponents to register a 3-run win.
India are set to square off against West Indies in the 2nd ODI at the Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday, July 24.
