Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 139 while skipper Shubman Gill struck 110 as India crushed the West Indies by eight wickets in the first ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Keacy Carty struggled through a tortured stay before lobbing Prasidh Krishna to mid-on in the 31st over, and Kuldeep had captain Shai Hope caught at backward point. Greaves reached his maiden ODI hundred with a single through point but soon missed a sweep at a Kuldeep googly, and India’s review showed the ball crashing into off stump. Next ball, Jewel Andrew pressed forward to another googly from Kuldeep and edged to Rohit at slip for a golden duck.
After the West Indies made 295/7, with Kuldeep Yadav picking a four-wicket haul and controlling run-flow in the middle overs, Rohit Sharma and Gill gave India a quick start with a 74-run opening stand before the latter and Kohli batted the visitors out of the game with a 151-run partnership. Gill walked off to a standing ovation after his 108-ball 110, his tenth ODI hundred featuring 13 fours and a six. Dropped on 125 by Keemo Paul, Kohli finished the match in style, whipping Keacy Carty over deep backward square leg for six before sealing the win with another six over fine leg. Previously, Justin Greaves struck a fluent 101 off 108 balls, while John Campbell and Amir Jangoo chipped with fifties. Kuldeep broke the 135-run stand in the 20th over when Campbell top-edged a sweep to short fine leg. Brief Scores: West Indies 295/7 in 50 overs (Justin Greaves 101, John Campbell 62; Kuldeep Yadav 4-40, Prasidh Krishna 2-60) lost to India 300/2 in 41.4 overs (Virat Kohli 139 not out, Shubman Gill 110; Roston Chase 1-64, Alzarri Joseph 1-81) by eight wickets.
