When everyone was talking about cleansweep and cementing the top-spot in the ODI rankings, West Indies produced a stunning performance to maul India in the opening one-dayer of the five-match series in Kochi on Wednesday.
The Caribbean outfit was not in best of shapes heading into the encounter, because of off-field activities that were surrounding them. They, meanwhile, produced a brilliant performance against the World Champions to clinch the encounter by 124 runs.
Marlon Samuels was instrumental in West Indies thumping win and scored an unbeaten century. He along with Denesh Ramdin guided the touring party well past 300 runs mark by making a 164-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Samuels (126 not out) anchored the innings and played till the end, while Ramdin (61) made a well-compiled fifty. Samuels also fore with the ball and chipped in with a couple, including a prize wicket of Shikhar Dhawan, who top-scored for Team India.
“It was a great team effort, credit to entire team especially to Samuels coming back to ODI team,” Bravo said. “Credit to the stand between him and Ramdin and the bowlers as well. I hope Simmons is fit for the next match but I’m ready to open for the team.”
Meanwhile, chasing a stiff 322-run total, Indian innings never took off and they were bundled for a mere 197 in 41 overs, despite getting a decent start from Ajinkya Rahane and Dhawan. Rahane played well for his 24 and was looking in fine touch but unfortunately ran himself out.
Rahane’s departure opened the floodgates as the visitors kept picking wickets on regular intervals. Virat Kohli’s woes continued with the bat and he was caught at slip in same fashion like the Test series against England a couple of month ago.
In form Suresh Raina (0) and Ambati Rayudu (13) failed to fire and were dismissed cheaply, so did the Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (8). But, as Samuels castled Dhawan (68), India’s resistance also came to an end.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (33 not out) fought the lost fight with the tailenders but the target was way too much to chase and India succumbed to an embarrassing defeat in the opening tie.
“It was a par score but it was a good wicket to bat on,” Dhoni said. “Last few overs we bowled well to restrict them. At the start of the match if we were given 320-odd we should have got it. They bat really deep and have 6 bowlers with a part-timer.”
“They have spinners, quick bowlers and are a balanced side,” he added. “Dwayne Bravo and I know each other well. But with technology as well we can spot the weaknesses and do analysis of the opponents easily these days.”
