Samuels stars as West Indies upset India’s cart in first ODI

A blistering unbeaten knock of 126 paves the way for a huge 124-run victory as the hosts go all out for 197 in Kochi.

An Indian batting collapse – losing five wickets for 63 runs – handed the West Indies a massive 124-run victory in the first of five one-day internationals at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi yesterday.

Marlon Samuels struck a superb unbeaten century to fire the West Indies to an impressive 321 for six in 50 overs.

Faced with a daunting target, India made a good start with openers Ajinkya Rahane (28) and Shikhar Dhawan (68) compiling 49 runs for the first wicket. Rahane was run out after a poor call that ended with both openers at the same end, and soon India were reduced to 83 for four.

Dhawan was able to keep the scoreboard ticking over and hit nine fours in the 92 balls he faced, but the wickets were falling at the other end at regular intervals. The Delhi batsman fell in the 29th over and India’s resistance crumbled with the last five wickets going for 63 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 33 from 36 balls.

Samuels picked up two wickets with his off-spin to add to his ton to be named man of the match. Pacers Ravi Rampaul and Dwayne Bravo also picked up two wickets each.

Samuels’s crafty 126 not out came off 116 deliveries, his sixth ODI hundred, after the West Indies were sent in to bat.

Recalled for the series after being dropped for the recent tour to Bangladesh, Samuels smashed 11 fours and four sixes and shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 165 with Denesh Ramdin (61).

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