WI VS IND 1ST T20I

Right then! West Indies slump to yet another white-ball loss and will need to pull up their socks. India have taken a 1-0 lead with a win here but there are still four games left in the series. The action now moves to Warner Park in St Kitts for the 2nd T20I. The game will be played on Monday, the 1st of August and play will commence at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT). Our build-up though will begin much sooner. Do join us then. Take care and goodbye!

The victorious Indian captain, Rohit Sharma says they knew the nature of the pitch wasn't going to be easy. Says that they also focused on how a batter who had his eye-in needed to go on. Mentions that he really thought this isn't a pitch where you get 170/180 but eventually they were able to get above the par score which is an incredible team effort. Mentions there are three facets of the game, and they want to try and improve all three of them. Adds that they have also given certain roles to certain players and it did work out well today. All in all, it was a great effort and they will continue to do that. Says that everything relies on the pitch and sometimes they need to start on the back foot. Ends by saying it is always fun to play in this country and is glad to provide them with some entertaining cricket.

West Indies skipper, Nicholas Pooran says that they are disappointed with their batting performance. Adds that the par score was around 150 and the penalty cost them a few extra runs in the death overs which made it more difficult. Mentions that they tend to get starts with the bat but they need to be able to go on and get big scores. Says that the spinners bowled well and they wanted to restrict the opposition to around 175 but it did not happen.

Dinesh Karthik (41* off 19) wins the Man of the Match award for his brisk innings. He starts by saying the wicket was a bit sticky and it wasn't easy initially. Says he is really happy with his new role, but one can really find it difficult to remain consistent. Adds that there are a lot of things that you need to be aware of that comes with a little bit of practice.

The presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Nicholas Pooran won the toss and opted to bowl first and that decision has proven to be the wrong one. West Indies were decent with the ball in Powerplay but Rohit Sharma managed to stay on the crease and get useful runs for his side. Towards the fag end of the innings, Dinesh Karthik took advantage of some sloppy bowling and managed to power the visitors to a big score. Obed McCoy was brilliant for the hosts with the ball but he too went for some stick in the end. Having a steep target to chase, West Indies' innings never got any momentum. Wickets fell at regular intervals with not a single batter crossing the 30-run mark. India read the conditions well and all three of their spinners were outstanding. The pacers too supported them well and it was an easy victory in the end for the visitors. Stay tuned for the presentation.

India will be ecstatic with the start they have got in the T20I series and they have been clinical with both bat and ball. The opening bowlers received a bit of stick in their first overs but once Arshdeep Singh got rid of Mayers, India had the opening. After this, the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin controlled play and got wickets as well. In the second half of the innings, Ravi Bishnoi bowled well and got a couple of wickets with the pacers closing out the match with ease. Everyone apart from Hardik Pandya got into the wickets column and they will be happy with this win.

West Indies knew that 191 runs wouldn't be one bit easy to get but this has been a very disappointing batting display from them. The hosts had to attack from the start and Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks did just that but it only lasted for a couple of overs. Mayers was overaggressive and gave away his wicket. After the first wicket went down, no one really tried to anchor the innings and everyone just went hard and then back to the pavilion. Almost everyone got into double digits but there was no big score and while chasing a big score, one needs partnerships which were absent. They will now look to bounce back in the 2nd game of the series.

What a dominant performance from India! The visitors have outclassed the hosts in every department in this game and have taken a well-deserved 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

A dot to end the innings here! Ravi Bishnoi ends his spell with two wickets. A googly this time, around middle and leg, a bit quicker. Alzarri Joseph tries to smoke heave it away but misses it completely and the ball sneaks through his legs. India win the game by 68 runs.

Looped up, full and on off. Paul works it to long on for one more.

Floated and full, on off. Alzarri Joseph gets low and sweeps it through mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller, on middle. Paul drags his sweep to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries now. A little too late for the hosts. It is short again, outside off. Paul pulls it powerfully towards wide long on and finds the boundary.

FOUR! Nicely played! It is slightly short, on the pads. Keemo Paul moves to the leg side and pulls it to deep square leg for a boundary.

A low full toss, on the pads, Paul tucks it through mid-wicket for an easy single.

Back of a length, outside off. Joseph punches it to cover for a single.