Greaves Century, Jangoo Blitz Power West Indies to 295
Justin Greaves hits a century and Amir Jangoo blazes a half-century to propel West Indies to 295/7 against India in the first ODI at Thiruvananthapuram.
The West Indies have set a formidable challenge for India in the opening match of the ODI series, posting a competitive total of 295/7 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. A masterful century from Justin Greaves and a late-innings explosion from Amir Jangoo ensured the visitors reached a target of 296 runs.
Greaves and Campbell Set the Foundation
The West Indian innings began with significant momentum as the openers laid a solid groundwork. Justin Greaves played a pivotal role, anchoring the innings with a beautifully paced 101 runs from 108 deliveries. His knock was punctuated by 12 boundaries, showcasing his ability to control the tempo of the game.
Greaves found an excellent partner in John Campbell, with the duo stitching together a massive 135-run opening stand. Campbell provided the initial fireworks, scoring 62 runs off just 60 balls, including six fours and three towering sixes. While Campbell's dismissal in the 20th over offered India a momentary breakthrough, Greaves remained composed to guide his team through the middle overs and reach his milestone century.
Late Acceleration from Amir Jangoo
As the innings progressed, the West Indies looked to accelerate to ensure a high total. Amir Jangoo provided exactly that, playing a blistering unbeaten knock. Jangoo smashed 58 runs off only 43 balls, maintaining a strike rate of 134.88. His aggressive approach, featuring five boundaries and two sixes, allowed the West Indies to finish their 50 overs on a high note.
Other contributions included:
- Roston Chase: 24 runs off 32 balls
- Keacy Carty: 13 runs off 31 balls
- Shai Hope: 12 runs off 11 balls
- Matthew Forde: 7 runs off 12 balls
India's Bowling Effort Led by Kuldeep Yadav
Despite the heavy scoring from the West Indian batters, the Indian bowling attack managed to keep the contest alive through disciplined spells. Kuldeep Yadav was the standout performer for the hosts, leading the charge with exceptional figures of 4/40 to restrict the opposition.
Prasidh Krishna also made inroads into the West Indian lineup, claiming two important wickets, while Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed with a single wicket to help stem the flow of runs during the middle period of the innings.