West Indies v India
CG United ODI Series presented by YES Bank
1st One-Day International
Venue: Kensington Oval, Barbados
Toss: India won the toss and bowled
Scorecard:  https://bit.ly/1stodi

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with a clinical performance at the historic venue.  After being inserted to bat by the visitors, West Indies were unable to post a competitive total and India were able to overcome the total within 23 overs.

Alick Athanaze came out firing in his second ODI appearance for the West Indies, hitting three fours and a six in a promising knock of 22 (18 balls). Brandon King (17 from 23) was the supporting act, before Athanaze was caught at point by Ravindra Jadeja off Mukesh Kumar (1-22) on his ODI debut.

Captain Shai Hope came to the crease and made the pitch and played well, stroking the ball around the park for a well-played 43 (45 balls), which included three fours and a six.  He eventually lost his wicket in the 23rd over and the West Indies were bowled out for 114 runs.

Left arm spinners dominated the wickets column for India, with player-of-the-match Kuldeep Yadav picking up 4-6 in a 3 over spell, to go with Jadeja, who took three wickets.

In reply to the West Indies’ total. India opened with Ishan Kishan (52 from 46) and Shubman Gill (7 from 16), before the latter was dismissed by fast bowler Jayden Seales (1-21) at the end of the fourth over.  India then battled through a slightly troubling period, where the West Indies picked up wickets at regular intervals.

However, opener Kishan stood firm, getting to his half century before his dismissal, caught at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Gudakesh Motie (2-26), who was the best bowler for the Men in Maroon, in 17th over.  His team only required 21 runs to win at that stage.

Yannic Cariah (1-35) was the other West Indian bowler to account for the wickets, along with Seales and Motie.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Hope stated: “Tough day at the office. We didn’t start well and obviously we fought back at the end, so I must commend the guys for the fight that they showed in the fielding department. But runs on the board is always runs on the board and we didn’t have that.”

The second ODI in the CG United ODI Series powered by YES Bank will be played at the same venue on Saturday. First ball is at 9:30am.

-CWI