Cricket fans witnessed a thrilling contest at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, as the West Indies put up a fighting total of 295/7 in their allotted 50 overs against India in the 1st ODI.
The highlight of the West Indies innings was a magnificent, gritty century by Justin Greaves, who anchored the visitors’ batting lineup with a brilliant 101 runs. Greaves showed immense resilience against a disciplined Indian bowling attack, keeping the scoreboard ticking and ensuring his team reached a competitive score. Late-innings heroics further bolstered the total, with Amir Jangoo playing an explosive, unbeaten cameo of 58 runs off just 43 balls.
For India, the bowling unit executed their plans well to contain the West Indies below the 300-run mark—an excellent effort in favourable batting conditions. Kuldeep Yadav was the standout performer with the ball, delivering a masterclass in spin bowling to finish with stellar figures of 4 for 40.
Kuldeep completely shifted the momentum in India’s favour with a brilliant spell, which included taking two wickets in two consecutive deliveries. He first claimed the prized scalp of centurion Justin Greaves before trapping Jewel Andrew on a golden duck. Pacer Prasidh Krishna also provided crucial support, chipping in with tidy bowling to pick up 2 for 60.
With a target of 296 runs set for victory, the stage is now perfectly poised for an exciting chase.
