Barbados: Ishan Kishan's fifty and Kuldeep Yadav's 4/6 gave India a thumping 5-wicket win against West Indies in the first ODI at Bridgetown's Kensington Oval here on Thursday.
It was a no contest whatsoever as West Indies were bundled out for 114 runs in just 23 overs. They gave Indian batsmen a merrier time to cherish in the middle as they had on their shoulders to chase an unchallenging target.
Ishan suited the script as he cracked a superb 52 off 46 balls with 7 boundaries and a six. Shubnam Gill (7) edged one to the slips to Brandon King off Jayden Seales, and so did Surya Kumar Yadav who was trapped leg before by Gudakesh Motie for 19 off 25 balls with 3 boundaries and a six.
Hardik Pandya was unfortunate to be run out for 5, and then Shardul Thakur (1) was caught rather comically by Alick Athanaze off Yannic Cariah, but India were in control of the chase all along.
The job was done by Rohit Sharma (8*), who came out to bat at number 7, in 22.5 overs.
Earlier Kuldeep and Jadeja shared seven wickets among themselves to spin out the West Indies for 114 in 23 overs.
Jadeja picked three wickets for 37 runs, and Kuldeep four for 6 as Windies crippled soon after Rohit introduced Kuldeep in the 19th over.
After being sent in, Kyle Mayers (2) frittered away his wicket attempting a wild shot, but Brandon King (17) and Alick Athanaze (22) looked to solidify the innings, but the latter gave a catch to Jadeja at backward point off pacer Mukesh Kumar.
Shardul Thakur got a straight ball through the gates of King to prompt Shimron Hetmyer to walk into the middle.
Hetmyer and Shai Hope had a huge responsibility on their shoulders, but the former was cleaned up by Jadeja which opened the floodgates.
Seeing the pitch giving ample spin, Rohit placed fielders at attacking positions which fetched wickets for India. (UNI)
