India vs West Indies, 1st ODI: India pull off last ball win over West Indies, take 1-0 lead in three-match series

Shikhar Dhawan made a well crafted 97 while Shubmam Gill made a classy 64 in his ODI comeback before India held their nerves to pull off a three-run win over the West Indies in the series opener here. Openers Dhawan (97 off 99 balls) and Gill (64 off 53) shared a 119-run stand before the West Indies fought back to restrict India to 308 for seven. As it happened | ScorecardThe West Indies needed 15 off the final over for a record chase at Queens Park Oval but Mohammed Siraj was able to stop a rampaging Romario Shepherd (38 not out off 25). At the top of order, Kyle Mayers (75 off 68) and Shamarh Brooks (46 off 61) raised West Indies' hopes with an 117-run stand for the second wicket before Brandon King (54 off 66) took the game deep. In the end, the West Indies fell short and ended at 305 for six.

Shardul Thakur had struck twice earlier in the chase to bring India back into the game as he removed the set duo of Mayers and Brooks. The highly rated Mayers played a few spectacular strokes in his innings, including a one legged pull shot off Siraj. Skipper Nicholas Pooran (25 off 26) came in and punished Prasidh Krishna with two flat sixes over deep square leg and deep midwicket. The hosts needed 90 off the last 60 balls and the 56-run stand between King and Akeal Hosein (32 not out off 32) kept India on the edge. However, Yuvzvendra Chahal came up with a timely breakthrough to make the job tougher for the West Indies.

The home team was kept in the chase by Shepherd and Hosein whose valiant partnership was in vain. Earlier, Gill, playing his first ODI since December 2020, played some sublime strokes while Dhawan took his time before changing gears. Shreyas Iyer, who has had his troubles of late with the short ball, was back