07 June,2011 07:50 AM IST | | IANS
Rohit Sharma hit an unbeaten 68 to guide India to a comfortable four-wicket win over the West Indies in the first one-day international of the five match series at the Queens Park Oval here Monday. Sharma's 75-ball knock helped India recover from a shaky 61 for three to successfully chase down a modest West Indies total of 214/9 in 44.5 overs with four wickets in hand. Sharma was also adjudged as the Man of the Match.
West Indies aided by Ramnaresh Sarwan (56) and Marlon Samuels (55), who put on 82 for the fourth wicket, got to a respectable total on a challenging track. Harbhajan Singh finished as the pick of either side's bowlers with 3-32.
India got off to a quick start with Shikhar Dhawan (51) and Parthiv Patel (13) hitting a string of boundaries. But Patel's run out, a brilliant work by Dwayne Bravo and Carlton Baugh, triggered a mini collapse.
Virat Kohli was caught behind off Ravi Rampaul for two and Subramaniam Badrinath (17) under-edged leggie Devendra Bishoo through to Baugh to leave India struggling at 61-3.
But Sharma stitched two crucial partnerships with Dhawan and skipper Suresh Raina (43 not out) to bail out India.
Sharma was first involved in a 43-run stand with Dhawan and then pushed India to a win with a 80-run stand with Raina.
Harbhajan Singh (6 not out) finished things off in style with a six off Darren Sammy.
Earlier, India put up a disciplined bowling performance to restrict the West Indies to 214 for nine. Harbhajan took three wickets while Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel and Raina chipped in with two wickets each.
Sarwan (56) and Samuels (55) scored 82 runs after West Indies lost three quick wickets. The lower order, however, failed to accelerate in the death overs.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy chose to bat, but Praveen Kumar and Munaf Patel bowled a tight line.
The West Indies lost opener Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo early. Praveen dismissed Simmons, who played straight into the hands of Harbhajan Singh at mid-off. Bravo was caught by Rohit Sharma in the slips off Munaf.
Kirk Edwards (45) and Sarwan found the going tough and focussed on building a partnership. But the runs dried out as the spinners tightened the noose around them.
Edwards, who was clearly uneasy facing the slow bowlers, was dismissed by Harbhajan, caught by Virat Kohli in the slips.
Sarwan and Samuels then tried to stem the rot but the runs came at a slow pace. Sarwan, who hit five fours in his 94-ball innings, was caught by wicketkeeper off Munaf.
Raina got rid of Samuels, who hit two sixes as he looked to break the shackles.
Dwayne Bravo made a quickfire 22 off 20 balls and Carlton Baugh contributed 16, before Harbhajan got rid of both. The rest of the lower order batting then surrendered.
