Port of Spain: India middle order batsman Rohit Sharma struck a gutsy 68 off 75 balls as India won the first one day international (ODI) against the West Indies by four wickets at the Queen's Park Oval on Monday.
Sharma smashed three fours and a six and was involved in a crucial fifth wicket partnership of 80 runs with skipper Suresh Raina as India took a 1-0 lead in the five match series.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan who scored his maiden ODI fifty (51 off 76) was the other notable contributor for Team India.
Earlier, India lost the wickets of Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli as they went about their chase of 215 for victory.
While a needless run out accounted for Parthiv's wicket, Kohli slashed at a wide wide one to be caught by Baugh off the bowling of Ravi Rampaul.
India lost their third wicket soon after as Subramaniam Badrinath's attempt to square cut a Devendra Bishoo delivery only ended up in the gloves of Windies wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh.
Badrinath's dismissal brought Sharma to the crease who along with Dhawan added 43 runs for the fourth wicket.
Dhawan departed after bringing up his half century as his slog sweep off Windies leg spinner spinner Anthony Martin was thankfully accepted by Lendl Simmons on the deep mid wicket boundary which left India four down.
Raina leading the Indian side in the absence of some big names then made 43 and along with Sharma took India to the brink of victory.
The Indian skipper fell to Martin who picked up his second wicket but the stage was set for the finishing act to be executed with the minimum of fuss.
Yusuf Pathan was caught and bowled by Rampaul who picked up his second scalp as India lost their sixth wicket.
However, Harbhajan Singh's six off Darren Sammy settled the issue in favour of India with 5.1 overs to spare.
Earlier, Ramnaresh Sarwan top scored with 56 and Marlon Samuels chipped in with a useful 55 but the rest of the batsmen failed miserably as West Indies were kept down to 214/9 in their 50 overs.
Harbhajan took 3/32 and Praveen Kumar along with Munaf Patel grabbed two wickets apiece for the visitors as the home team failed to put up a competitive total.
West Indies lost openers Simmons and Darren Bravo inside the mandatory powerplay overs after their skipper Sammy won the toss and elected to bat first.
Kieron Pollard was left out of the playing eleven by the West Indies, while India sprung a surprise by choosing to play Amit Mishra in place of R Ashwin.
Munaf was rewarded for some excellent line and length bowling and ended up having Bravo caught by Rohit Sharma at a widish slip position.
Simmons fell in an effort to up the ante as he lofted Kumar only to find Harbhajan at mid-off who completed an easy catch.
The Windies lost their third wicket when Kirk Edwards top edged a pull shot to be caught by Kohli off the bowling of Harbhajan for 21.
Sarwan and Samuels then put on 82 runs for the fourth wicket before the former was caught down the leg side off Munaf's bowling for 56.
Sarwan struck five fours during his 94 ball innings.
Samuels then took charge and added 36 runs with Dwayne Bravo before being bowled by Raina after scoring 55 off 75 balls, a knock which included three fours and two sixes.
There was a procession of wickets after that as the hosts lost Bravo, Baugh, Sammy and Bishoo for 15 runs and were in danger of being bowled out inside their quota of 50 overs.
Rampaul hit the last ball of the innings for a boundary to set India a victory target of 215.
In pics: West Indies vs India, 1st ODI
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