India v West Indies, 2014-15
Wisden's review of the first ODI, India v West Indies, 2014-15
15-Apr-2015
At Kochi, October 8, 2014 (day/night). West Indies won by 124 runs. Toss: India.
First there was a threat of rain. Then the West Indian pay dispute flared up, casting doubts over the match and the tour itself. All the drama meant that, when play finally began, it felt as if the series had already been going on for days. Samuels produced a masterclass on a surface which left most batsmen wary of hitting through the line. He stroked his sixth and highest one-day century, and dominated a fourth-wicket stand of 165 with Ramdin, even though his sprightly 61 came at better than a run a ball. Samuels later put his resurgence down to a pre-tour audience with Viv Richards: "I had a long talk with the Master - he shared all his knowledge and I just soaked it up." West Indies finished with 321, and all but wrapped up the match when Dhoni's departure to the first ball of the 26th over made it 114 for five. Dhawan had scratched around uncharacteristically for 68 in 92 deliveries, while Kohli reprised a familiar dismissal from the English summer, caught in the slips.
Man of the Match: M. N. Samuels.
First there was a threat of rain. Then the West Indian pay dispute flared up, casting doubts over the match and the tour itself. All the drama meant that, when play finally began, it felt as if the series had already been going on for days. Samuels produced a masterclass on a surface which left most batsmen wary of hitting through the line. He stroked his sixth and highest one-day century, and dominated a fourth-wicket stand of 165 with Ramdin, even though his sprightly 61 came at better than a run a ball. Samuels later put his resurgence down to a pre-tour audience with Viv Richards: "I had a long talk with the Master - he shared all his knowledge and I just soaked it up." West Indies finished with 321, and all but wrapped up the match when Dhoni's departure to the first ball of the 26th over made it 114 for five. Dhawan had scratched around uncharacteristically for 68 in 92 deliveries, while Kohli reprised a familiar dismissal from the English summer, caught in the slips.
Man of the Match: M. N. Samuels.