Ahmedabad, Feb 6 : Spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar shared seven wickets before Rohit Sharma smashed 60 as India beat West Indies by 6 wickets in the first ODI here at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. With the win, India go up 1-0 against West Indies in the three-match series. Jason Holder’s 57 off 71 was the only saving grace for the visitors as West Indies folded for 176 in 43.5 overs after being asked to bat first. Chahal (4/49) and Sundar (3/30) inflicted damage with Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj picking up 2/29 and 1/26, respectively. India got off to a brilliant start while chasing a below-par target of 177 in their historic 1000th ODI match. Skipper Rohit and Ishan Kishan stitched a solid 84-run opening stand, which saw Rohit registering his 44th ODI fifty.
Alzarri Joseph got the much-needed breakthrough as Rohit (60 off 51 balls) was dismissed leg-before. Joseph then ended former India captain Virat Kohli’s (8) stay as the right-hander played an uncontrolled hook shot. Ishan Kishan, who opened the batting with Rohit, chipped in with 28 before holing out to deep square leg off Akeal Hosein. Rishabh Pant (11) faced an unlucky dismissal when Suryakumar Yadav drilled the ball straight, Joseph moved his right boot in his followthrough and deflected the ball onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Suryakumar (34 not out) and Deepak Hooda (26 not out) formed a 62-run partnership for the fifth wickets off 65 balls to take India home.
Earlier, fast bowler Siraj started with a maiden over with every delivery on a good length. He got the early breakthrough after being hit for back-to-back boundaries. Shai Hope (8) looked to drive again through the off side but got an inside edge that crashed onto the stumps. Washington struck twice for India in the 12th over, reducing West Indies to 45/3. While Brandon King (13) was caught at short midwicket, Darren Bravo (18) was trapped leg-before. India was on a roll as Chahal bagged three wickets in quick succession. The leg-spinner dismissed Nicholas Pooran, who missed the sweep, leg-before but not before a review. With Pooran’s (18) dismissal, Chahal completed his 100 ODI wickets. In no time Chahal cleaned up West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard for a golden duck. Pollard failed to read the googly; played the wrong line and ball crashed onto the stumps. India appealed for Shamarh Brooks’ caught behind but the on-field umpire turned them down. Chahal, however, convinced his skipper Rohit to go for a review.
The ultra-edge showed a clear spike as the ball passed bat and West Indies were reduced to 78/6. Holder and Fabian Allen came to rescue West Indies, stitching a 78-run stand for the eighth wicket. West Indies moved past the 100-run mark in the 29th over as Holder and Allen continued to build a much-needed partnership. In spite of the collapse, the batters in the middle batted with confidence and played some impressive strokes.
Holder registered his half-century with a shot straight to deep mid-wicket. Washington finally ended the gritty partnership as he caught and bowled Allen for 29. West Indies’ lone fighter Holder departed off Prasidh. Chahal wrapped up West Indies as he got his fourth and visitors’ final wicket Alzarri Joseph for 13. Brief scores: West Indies 176/10 in 43.5 overs (Jason Holder 57; Yuzvendra Chahal 4/49, Washington Sundar 3/30) lost to India 178/4 in 28 overs (Rohit Sharma 60, Suryakumar Yadav 34 not out; Alzarri Joseph 2/45 ) by 6 wickets.
