Finance
Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja combined for seven wickets, while wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan made his promotion to opening count by top-scoring with 52 as India defeated West Indies by five wickets in the first one-day international of the three-match series at Kensington Oval on Thursday.
Kuldeep, who was introduced into the attack in the 17th over, took 4-6, while Jadeja laid the groundwork for the West Indies collapse with 3-37. The pair created a cruel web of spin magic to bowl out West Indies for their second-lowest ODI total against India — 114 in 23 overs.
As the visitors reshuffled their batting, Kishan began the batting, took on the bowlers, and hammered seven fours and a six in his 46-ball 52. Captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli sat back as everyone else were given a go with the bat.
With 163 balls remaining, Rohit stepped out to bat at number seven to complete India’s tenth consecutive triumph over the West Indies.
Things went well for India from the moment they won the toss and chose to bowl first on a wicket that aided bowlers. Apart from Kuldeep and Jadeja, all-rounders Hardik Pandya, Shardul Thakur, and debutant seamer Mukesh Kumar each grabbed a wicket, while fielders took outstanding catches in an excellent all-round effort for India.
In the third over, Rohit’s decision to bowl first paid off when he caught Kyle Mayers at mid-on off Pandya’s back of the length delivery. Brandon King (17) and Alick Athanaze (22) batted well, hitting some beautiful boundaries off the pacers and put on 38 runs for the second wicket.
Mukesh took his maiden ODI wicket as Athanaze sliced uppishly to backward point in the eighth over, followed by King cutting on to his stumps off Thakur in the next over.
Skipper Shai Hope stayed in to knock 43 from 45 balls, but he was out of partners on the other end. Shimron Hetmyer’s ODI comeback came to an end as he missed the sweep against Ravindra Jadeja and had his leg-stump rattled in the 16th over.
In his following over, Jadeja caught Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd at first and second slip, respectively, in three deliveries. Kuldeep then took over, using his googlies to trap Dominic Drakes, Yannick Cariah, and Hope with his googlies, before ending a sorry batting show of West Indies by having Jayden Seales caught at leg-slip.
Kishan began his chase for 115 with a pulled four against Dominic Drakes, while Shubman Gill was fortunate in top-edge on pull going over keeper for four. Gill fell in the fourth over after poking at a Jayden Seales fifth stump line ball, and Brandon King took a nice low catch at second slip.
Suryakumar Yadav’s ascension to number three began with a signature look for four, which was followed by a brilliant cover drive to the boundary. Kishan kept his check-drives, pulls, and flicks consistent even as Suryakumar used his famous pick-up whip and sweep for boundaries.
Suryakumar attempted to sweep off Motie again after failing the first two times. But this time he was caught lbw by the left-arm spinner who got to straighten the delivery from middle and off, and even burnt a review.
Kishan opened the game by chipping over mid-off and cutting through point for a pair of fours. Despite the fact that Pandya was run-out after Cariah deflected the ball to the non-striker’s end, Kishan continued to have fun, prancing down the pitch to swipe the leg-spinner over deep mid-wicket for six and slamming Motie over his head for four more.
Kishan fell soon after reaching his fourth ODI fifty with a brace against Athanaze, holing out to deep mid-wicket off Motie. Thakur fell in the next over after dabbing straight to second slip off Cariah.
Rohit, at number seven, and Jadeja ensured India over the line, with the skipper sweeping Motie to finish the chase in style and seal an easy win for the visitors.
West Indies had a terrible day with the bat, losing seven wickets for only 26 runs, and efforts from spinners Yannic Cariah (1-35) and Gudakesh Motie (2-26) were the only bright spots on a day completely dominated by India.
Brief Scores: West Indies 114 in 23 overs (Shai Hope 43, Alick Athanaze 22; Kuldeep Yadav 4-6, Ravindra Jadeja 3-37) lost to India (Ishan Kishan 52; Gudakesh Motie 2-26, Yannic Cariah 1-35) by 5 wickets.
Source:OCN
