In a nail biting encounter on Friday India won first One Day Cricket against West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Chasing a target of 308 West Indies fell short by three runs as Mohammad Siraj stood tall in the final over to save 15 runs. In the last ball West Indies needed 5 runs but Romario Shepherd who was looking dangerous could not overpower Siraj’s Yorker.
At one point West Indies were advancing towards a comfortable victory as Brandon King was going strong after reaching his half century and West Indies needed 64 runs in 42 balls. But leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal gave India a much needed breakthrough by removing King.
Despite hiccups at regular intervals as Indian bowlers were successful on getting wickets on crucial times, West Indies remained in the game riding on the brilliant innings of Kyle Mayers 75, Shamarh Brooks 46, Brandon King 54, Akil Hosein 32 and Romario Shepherd 30.
Earlier Shikhar Dhawan and Shubhan Gill gave India a fluent start without giving any chance to West Indies bowlers. As the inning progressed both started to compete in playing their shots. Shubham Gill played an attractive knock of 64. Dhawan on the other hand anchored the innings without compromising his strike rate as he 97. It was the third occasion since he made his last century in 2018 that he fell in the nineties.
Sheres Aiyer (54) too broke the shackles to reach half century. It took comeo from Akshar Patel and Hooda to reach a handsome total.
