The first ODI between the West Indies and India ended in a tense finish. The visitors just about managed to sneak home with a 3-run victory. After being sent to bat first, India never looked out of their comfort zone for a majority of their innings, which was on the back of a superlative captain’s knock from Shikhar Dhawan. West Indian middle and lower order ensured they batted the whole 50 overs and took the game close. However, Mohammed Siraj was too good in the death overs, consistently nailing his yorkers to deny the hosts a come-from-behind victory. We look at some of the stats and key moments from the game.
Clueless bowling from hosts
After choosing to bowl first, West Indies bowlers didn’t back their captain’s decision with their efforts. They didn’t look like picking a wicket even once and offered a lot of boundary balls. In the first 10 overs of the match, India scored 73 runs without losing a wicket, including 11 Fours and a couple of Sixes. That’s 76.71% of the total runs all in boundaries.
In the first 10 overs, Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill had a control percentage of 97% and 93%, respectively. Throughout their innings, the Indian openers were not troubled by the West Indian pacers or spinners. When the openers eventually got out, which was also due to brilliant bits of fielding from West Indies and not their bowlers forcing a false shot, Dhawan had a control percentage of 95% and Gill 96%.
West Indies forging a comeback
At one point, when the score was 205-1 after 33 overs and two set batters at the crease, a score in excess of 350 seemed just a formality, especially with India having wickets in hand. However, the West Indian bowlers, led by Jayden Seales, had different plans.
After a Six in the 39th over bowled by Akeal Hosein, there were no boundaries till the 48th over of the match. The hosts completely sucked the momentum out of the Indian inning. It was a result of their pacers maintaining a tight line, not giving the batters any room outside the off stump and also keeping the length slightly short of good length.
In the 40th and the 42nd over bowled by Seales, he conceded just a single, even bowling a maiden. The 40th over also saw the first instance of any pacer beat the edge of an Indian batter. The third Powerplay was also the first phase where the West Indian pacers had any control over the Indian batters.
WI batters show promise
West Indies’ last ODI series was against Bangladesh a week ago. They couldn’t cross 180 in any of the ODIs and lost the series 0-3. This batting performance against India will give them a huge amount of confidence going forward. Not only did they score 300, but they also almost got over the line.
India were also saved by one spectacular save down the leg by Sanju Samson, who saved a certain Four of a Wide ball when WI needed eight off two balls. Throughout the match, the fielding was excellent from both sides. India will look to address their middle-order slump in the next game whereas the West Indian bowlers have their task cut out for the remaining two matches.