WI VS IND 1ST ODI

Right then, we have had a blistering start to the series with India coming out on top in a humdinger of a contest to take a 1-0 lead in the series. West Indies will be pumped up after that batting performance and will look to level the series. The 2nd ODI will be played on Sunday, the 24th of July at the same venue and it will begin at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT) but our build-up will begin much sooner. Do join us then. Take care and goodbye!

The captain of India, Shikhar Dhawan (97 off 99 balls) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Dhawan says he is happy to score runs but disappointed on missing the century. Adds that they needed partnership at the front as he knew it won't be easy for the inexperienced middle order. Informs there were nerves while bowling in the fag end but they held onto their nerves and made a couple of changes on the field. Shares that they used the bigger side as much as possible. Tells they want to keep on learning and make themselves better for the rest of the competition.

West Indies skipper, Nicholas Pooran says it feels like a win, a bitter-sweet match. Adds they wanted to play 50 overs and they did the job. Adds they did justice to the talent and showed what they are capable of. Hopes with the performance they go strength to strength against this kind of formidable side. Shares that bowlers did really well in the second half of the innings. He was looking for something around 315 but the bowlers did well. Adds that it's a good sign after the Bangladesh series. Mentions that he knows there will be many challenges but they need to stay positive.

Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Nicholas Pooran won the toss and opted to bowl first which proved to be a wrong decision as the Indian openers scored 73 runs in the first 10 overs itself. West Indies did pick up a few wickets but with the opposition just three down, the hosts were on the back foot. The top 3 for India all scored runs and put them in a great position to get a big total. The Indian innings crumbled in the final 10 overs and most of it was due to some really good bowling from the Windies pacers but India managed to cross the 300-run mark which is always a positive thing. West Indies fought tooth and nail in the chase and showed that they can bat under pressure but no one from the top order managed to bat through. The Indian bowling attack got the wickets and managed to see off the opposition, winning by a very small margin in the end.

India will be a relieved side as after posting big total on the board, they would have expected to win by a more comfortable margin but they were challenged to dig deep. Mohammed Siraj got the early breakthrough for his side but after that, the Indian bowlers were treated to a bit of hammering. Shardul Thakur who proved to be expensive early on came back in the middle overs and got his side back on top after which India had a strong grip on the game. The Indian bowlers managed to pick up wickets at regular intervals but were never able to shut out the opposition which almost proved too costly in the end.

Heartbreak for West Indies as they managed to get in touching distance of the total but fell agonizingly short. Even though the hosts lost the match, seeing contributions throughout the batting order will be a big positive for them going forward as they even managed to play the complete quota of 50 overs, only for the 7th time in about 40 matches. Kyle Mayers was prolific at the top order and Shamarh Brooks supported him well. King got a half-century but it was the fight put up by Akeal Hosein and especially Romario Shepherd that got the Windies ever so close to chasing down the target. In the end, it proved to be a mountain too steep to climb but they will look to level the series in the next game.

An absolute thrilling encounter that went down to the wire to get the series underway but it is Mohammed Siraj who has managed to hold his nerves and seal the victory for his side. India just about edge West Indies to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

Bye! Siraj holds his nerves! This is full and around leg. Shepherd tries to heave across but misses. A boundary was needed but Shepherd fails to connect. Siraj is pumped up. Shepherd is disappointed as he is on his knees with head down. India win by 3 runs.

Two runs! 5 runs needed now! Are we heading to a super over? This is full and outside off. Shepherd pushes it to long off and again runs for his life to complete two runs.

Wide! Siraj spills it down the leg side. Shepherd misses his flick. The keeper does really well to get a hand on it. Wided.

TWO RUNS! Full again around leg. Shepherd again swings his bat. Mistimes his heave and it rolls to short fine leg. Superb commitment from Shepherd as he wants to finish it. Two taken.

FOUR! 10 needed now! This is full and on leg. Shepherd opens his body and it nutmegs as it races to deep square leg for a boundary.

This is full and way outside off. Hosein tries to paddle it away but plays all over it. He somehow connects and it rolls towards short third man for a single.

A widish yorker, outside off and Hosein fails to get bat on it. Just get Shepherd on the strike, is what needed right now for West Indies.

FOUR! Just what West Indies wanted! 15 needed from the last over! This is full and outside off. Shepherd again shows his power as he swings his bat, doesn't connect well but the ball flies off the outside edge to third man for a boundary.

Fuller ball on off. Hosein doesn't get the whole of it as he tries to whip away to deep square leg. A single.

Short of a length and on off. Shepherd mistimes his pull to long on for a single.