The first ODI between West Indies and India was called off on Friday due to persistent rain in Port of Spain. However, India batted 39.2 overs and had some positives to take from the game.
Shikhar Dhawan extended his rich vein of form with another fluent 87-run knock. The left-hander and Ajinkya Rahane who has been roped into the side in place of rested Rohit Sharma, started off slowly but then changed gears to get to steady a 132-run partnership for the first wicket.
None of the West Indies bowlers could trouble the Indian openers. As they were not over expressive with their strokeplay, preferring to nudge the ball around to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Both openers looked well in course to get big ones after slamming half-centuries but then Rahane got out for 62 scooping a slower delivery from Joseph to mid on.
Dhawan too followed his partner into the pavilion a few overs later after knitting a very brief stand with skipper Virat Kohli.
But before going back he had hit 10 fours and two sixes en route to his 92 ball 87.
Yuvraj Singh walked out to bat next, but looked very ungainly from the outset on the wicket where the ball wasn’t quite coming on to the bat.
He only contributed 5 runs to the total before falling to a flick which went straight into the hands of mid on.
When the rains came down Kohli (32) and MS Dhoni (9) were still at the crease trying to launch their side to a huge total in the last few overs.
For West Indies, legspinner Devendra Bishoo was the pick of the bowlers giving away 39 runs from his 10 overs and picking one wicket.
The legspinner got the wicket of Dhawan after he was adjudged leg-before-wicket. Dhawan fell prey to trying to play a line delivery onto the leg side.
