Samuels is ecstatic after bringing up his sixth ODI century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels scored a career-best 126 and took two wickets to help his side crush India by 124 runs in the first ODI in Kochi.
Samuels was well supported by wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin, who hit an entertaining 61.
However, India opener Shikhar Dhawan deserves some credit as he struck a valiant 68.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni would have been pleased with his decision to bowl first after West Indies skipper Dwayne Bravo was caught by Dhawan at first slip off the bowling of Mohammed Shami for 17 runs.
Dwayne Smith and Darren Bravo made up for the early loss of Bravo with a 64-run partnership before Smith was clean bowled by Ravindra Jadeja for 46.
Bravo went on to score 28 runs before he was caught by Dhawan at long-off off the bowling of Amit Mishra.
Samuels and Ramdin put the tourists in full control with a 165-run partnership, which is now the West Indies’ highest fourth-wicket stand in an ODI against India.
During the partnership, Samuels brought up his sixth ODI century and Ramdin his half-century, before Ramdin was caught by Jadeja at long-on off the bowling of Shami.
Samuels and Ramdin now hold the record for the West Indies’ highest fourth-wicket partnership against India in an ODI
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Ramdin’s brilliant knock of 61 came off 59 balls and included five boundaries and two sixes.
Kieron Pollard only made two runs before he was cleaned up by Shami.
Shami struck again just three balls later when Andre Russell was caught by Virat Kohli at long-off for one run.
Thanks to Samuels’ career-best knock of 126, which came off 116 deliveries and included 11 boundaries and four sixes, the West Indies finished on 321/6, which is the highest ODI score to ever be made in Kochi, off their 50 overs.
Shami was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Jadeja and Mishra chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing 322 to win, India got off to a solid start as Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane amassed a 49-run partnership before Rahane was run out by Smith for 24 runs.
Kohli failed to have an impact with the bat as he was caught by Darren Sammy at first slip off the bowling of Jerome Taylor for two runs.
Ambati Rayudu mustered 13 runs before he was caught by Sulieman Benn at mid-on off the bowling of Russell.
Suresh Raina failed to trouble the scorers as he had his stumps shattered by Dwayne Bravo for a duck.
Dhoni could not save his team as he was clean bowled by Sammy for just eight runs.
Dhawan ended up making 68 off 92 balls, which included nine boundaries, before he was cleaned up by Samuels.
Dhawan hit nine boundaries during his gutsy innings of 68
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Bhuvneshwar Kumar only made two runs before he was caught by Sammy at slip off the bowling of Samuels.
Mishra made five runs before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Bravo.
Mohit Sharma fared no better as he was caught by Taylor at third man off the bowling of Ravi Rampaul for eight runs.
Despite an entertaining 42-run partnership between Jadeja and Shami, it was not enough to save India from being pummelled by 124 runs.
Rampaul, Bravo and Samuels snapped up two wickets apiece, while Taylor, Russell and Sammy claimed one wicket each.
Dhoni was disappointed with his team’s performance, and said: “It was a par score but it was a good wicket to bat on. In the last few overs, we bowled well to restrict them. At the start of the match if we were given 320-odd we should have got it. They bat really deep and have 6 bowlers with a part-timer. They have spinners, quick bowlers and are a balanced side. Dwayne Bravo and I know each other well. But with technology as well we can spot the weaknesses and do analysis of the opponents easily these days.”
Bravo was pleased to have taken a 1-0 lead in the series, and said: “It was a great team effort, credit to entire team especially to Samuels coming back to the ODI team. Credit to the stand between him and Ramdin and the bowlers as well. I hope Simmons is fit for the next match but I’m ready to open for the team. It’s well and good till we keep winning. Scoring over 320 is always good, we fell short by 15-20 runs and they bowled very well but it was a great team effort from us.”
Samuels was named Man of the Match, and said: “After some injuries and surgery I didn’t play much, I got some form in CPL but didn’t play much. I lost my coach also so I dedicate this to him. Ramdin [has been] in good nick for the last year and he’s been batting well. The communication and running between us went well.”