Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Kochi, Marlon Samuels produced a match-winning performance to fire West Indies to victory in the first one-day international against India.
The 33-year-old struck 126 not out and took two wickets on his return to the international scene as the tourists completed a 124-run victory in Kochi with nine overs to spare in the opening game of the five-match series.
Samuels anchored the West Indies innings at Nehru Stadium as they finished their 50 overs 321-6, before bowling the hosts out for 197 despite late resilience from Ravindra Jadeja (33 not out) after opener Shikhar Dhawan had made 68.
Having been put into bat, Dwayne Bravo’s side made a steady start with 34 runs coming off the opening seven overs before the captain was removed for 17 by Mohammed Shami (4-66).
Darren Bravo (28) and Dwayne Smith (46) pushed the total towards three figures before Samuels arrived at the crease in the 18th over.
The run-rate began to increase quickly and Samuels’ 165-run partnership with Dinesh Ramdin (61) put the tourists in sight of 300.
Ramdin was dismissed in the 46th over, but Samuels remained unbeaten to finish his 116-ball innings with 11 fours and four sixes.
Jadeja (1-58) and Amit Mishra (1-72) were the only wicket-takers aside from seamer Shami, whose proved to be expensive.
India began their response well as Ajinkya Rahane (24) and Dhawan shared an opening stand of 49, however Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu (13) and Shami (19) were the only other batsmen able to get into double figures.
Strike bowler Ravi Rampaul ( 2-48) led the West Indies attack brilliantly with some tight bowling, while his fellow bowlers kept disciplined lines to help reduce India to 114-5.
The dangerous Virat Kohli (two), Suresh Raina (nought) and captain MS Dhoni (eight) all fell cheaply, leaving Jadeja stranded with the tail.
With 14 overs remaining they needed 167 runs with just one wicket remaining, and although Shami and Jadeja showed some fight it was left to Rampaul to seal the win.
The pace
