India record comprehensive triumph in Barbados

For the first time in their long history, India registered a win at Kensington Oval in Barbados today.

It took eight tours to the Caribbean and almost 50 years to happen, but the victory was a sweet one as India beat the West Indies by seven wickets to take a 1-0 lead in this five-match one-day series with two games to go.

It was a solid all-round performance from the visitors. Good bowling saw to it that the West Indies did not make it even to the 200-mark, being dismissed for 186 in 43.5 overs.

Medium-pacer Tinu Yohannan, on debut, and Ajit Agarkar scalped three wickets apiece, while Harbhajan Singh chipped in with the key wicket of Brian Lara.

With a small total to chase, India hardly broke a sweat. Dinesh Mongia, who had spent nearly all tour on the sidelines, came good with a sparkling innings of 74 allowing India to canter to victory.

The day began well for India when Sourav Ganguly won the toss and put the opposition in - a move that surprised a few, but one that paid off in the end.

Yohannan made his mark quite early. Removing both openers in his first spell, the medium-pacer helped reduce the West Indies to 45 for two. The fact that Yohannan began his one-day international career with a maiden over helped him settle into a good rhythm and gain confidence, enough to try out a few slower balls early on. It was not the slower deliveries that troubled the batsmen though.

Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds, in sparkling form from the Tests, began confidently. Although they were in no hurry, every delivery that was full was given the treatment. Whether it was drives over the covers or neat flicks through the on-side, there were runs to be had.

Not if they played away from the body though, as Hinds was to learn. Driving half-cocked, the left-hander dragged one from Yohannan back onto his stumps in the 11th over of the day. Hinds (15) trudged back to the pavilion as Yohannan celebrated.

And there was more reason to celebrate two overs later, when Gayle (16) whipped Yohannan around the corner to Dinesh Mongia at square-leg. The West Indies were 45 for two, and the crowd roared as Brian Lara walked out to the middle.

It was the perfect chance for Lara to make up for his disappointing showing in the Test matches. It was the ideal opportunity to unfurl his dazzling array of strokes. Harbhajan Singh, however, had different ideas. Tempting a hesitant Lara down the track, the offie had him driving straight at short mid-wicket. Mohammad Kaif took a good catch low down, and Lara (5) was back in the hut.

Then came the steadying influence of Ramnaresh Sarwan and Carl Hooper. Tucking the ball away superbly to the on-side for quick singles, the pair kept the fielders on their toes. As if to break the monotony, Hooper planted his foot down and swept Harbhajan Singh for a clean six over mid-wicket.

After adding an invaluable 86 runs for the fourth wicket, Sarwan was undone by a good piece of captaincy from Sourav Ganguly. Bringing Virender Sehwag on to bowl in the 32nd over, the Indian captain met with success off just the fourth ball from the part-time offie. Walking across his stumps, Sarwan (44 runs, 69 balls, five fours) was bowled off his pads.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul was then needlessly run out, Ryan Hinds stumped off a loose shot, and Ridley Jacobs adjudged caught behind as the wheels came off.

And yet, in all this, Carl Hooper stood tall. Driving through the covers with precision and power, the West Indian captain led from the front. Scoring at a brisk pace, Hooper defied the Indian bowling. Pacing his innings perfectly, Hooper gave a sterling display of how a limited-overs knock ought to be played. Unbeaten on 76 (75 balls, six fours, two sixes), Hooper could only watch as Agarkar rapidly cleaned up the tail.

Keeping it full and straight, Agarkar had Corey Colleymore trapped plumb in front and followed it up by uprooting Cameron Cuffy's middle stump. Agarkar ended with figures of three for 36, while Yohannan scalped three for 33. The West Indies were all out for 186 in 44.5 overs.

The Indian run-chase was, for the visitors, the proverbial walk in the park. The fact that Sehwag (21) and Ganguly (41) both lost their wickets completely against the run of play, when things looked good for the Indians, did nothing to change the course of the match.

Mongia, in a positive frame of mind from the word go, was quick to size up the length of a delivery. When the ball was short, he was onto the back foot in a flash, pulling with ease to the mid-wicket region. The fuller stuff got the full treatment from the wrists, being whipped past or over mid-on.

Even the fall of Mongia's wicket late in the day did little to lift the spirits of the crowd at Barbados. A case of too little too late, really. Mongia, in fine fettle, helped himself to 74 (104 balls, nine fours) before throwing his wicket away when India were in sight of victory at 166 for three. A needless chip shot straight back over Ryan Hinds' head and fell into the waiting hands of Chanderpaul at mid-off.

An uncharacteristically quiet Sachin Tendulkar motored along sedately to reach 34 (45 balls, two fours) as India passed the West Indies total with more than four overs to spare. Rahul Dravid, fresh at the crease was unbeaten on nine.