Marlon Samuels stars in West Indies win

Marlon Samuels' unbeaten 126 helped West Indies beat India by a 124-run margin in the first ODI played in Kochi on Wednesday.

West Indies were pressed in to bat after their captain Dwayne Bravo lost the toss. But their openers, Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith, refused to hand the hosts early advantage.

The duo added 34 runs in the first eight overs before Bravo departed. Darren Bravo then joined forces with Smith for a 64-run stand for the second wicket.

The solid display from West Indies' top order laid the platform for an onslaught later in their innings. Samuels and Denesh Ramdin took full advantage off some wayward bowling from India, with Samuels scoring 92 in the 165-run fourth wicket partnership.

Samuels started cautiously but he switched gears in the 31st over, clobbering Amit Mishra for two consecutive sixes. Three-overs later he took on Suresh Raina and dispatched him for a six and a four.

There was no stopping Samuels thereafter, as he and Ramdin added to India's woes. Samuels, who was playing his first ODI in seven months, reached three figures off 99 balls. His 11 fours and four sixes helped West Indies post 321.

India's openers, Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan, got their side off to a solid start. But Rahane's departure in the ninth over, via a run-out, led to a collapse.

The hosts lost four wickets in 17 overs for just 83 runs. Dhawan was the only India batsman who showed signs of form. He scored 68 before Samuels bowled him. India managed just 197 runs in reply to West Indies' total.

"After some injuries and surgery I didn't play much, got some form in CPL but didn't play much. I lost my coach also so I dedicate this to him," Samuel said after he won the Man-of-the-Match award. "Ramdin is in good nick for the last year and he's been batting well. The communication and running between us went well between us."