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Port of Spain: Shikhar Dhawan extended his red-hot form with a 87-run knock before rain interrupted India's progress in the first cricket One-day International against the West Indies.


Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane, included in the playing XI in place of rested Rohit Sharma, did not quite set the stage on fire but batted comfortably to raise a solid 132-run opening stand on a slowish track, not conducive for stroke-play.


They looked on course for big knocks before an innocuous looking bowling line-up from the West Indies stopped them in their tracks.


India were 199 for three in 39.2 overs after being asked to bat when rains started lashing the Queen's Park Oval.


None of the West Indies bowler troubled the Indian batsmen, who did not dominate the attack either, preferring to nudge the ball around to keep the scoreboard ticking.


Dhawan's 87 came off 92 balls with 10 boundaries, including two shots over the ropes while Rahane took 78 balls for his 62-run knock that had eight shots to the fence.


Yuvraj Singh was the only batsman who did not make much contribution to the Indian innings.


Captain Virat Kohli (32) and MS Dhoni (9) had a finishing job to do but two rain interruptions denied them the chance and they were still awaiting the play to resume.


Leg-break bowler Devendra Bishoo completed his quota of 10 overs and conceded 39 runs and also dismissed Dhawan.


After reading the wicket well and mostly scoring through languid drives, Rahane raised his half-century when an edge off Miguel Cummins raced to the boundary ropes.


Dhawan too completed his fifty with a six off pacer Alzarri Joseph over deep square leg boundary. It looked easiest of the shots he played as he picked the length quite early and lofted it over the ropes.


The runs were coming at will for the Indians and suddenly there was something to cheer for the hosts as Jospeh deceived Rahane with a slower one forcing the Indian opener to miscue the shot which landed in the hands of the skipper at mid-on.


The fall of wicket brought captain Kohli to the crease and he had to negotiate some testing spin from leg-break bowler Devendra Bishoo.


Dhawan though kept going strong, getting a six off Joseph and a four off Cummins to get close to the three-figure mark.


Kohli took some time to adjust to the slow nature of the wicket as initially he relied on singles. He took 20 balls to hit first boundary, which was a pull off a short and rising ball from Cummins.


Bishoo was rewarded for his hard work when he caught Dhawan plumb in front of the wicket. Dhawan played a flick but missed the line completely and was adjudged leg before wicket by Kumar Dharamsena.


Indians reviewed the decision but TV replays confirmed that the Sri Lankan umpire had called it correct.


Stage was set for Yuvraj Singh (4) to get a big score with the bowlers hardly making an impact but the left-hander hit one straight to Evin Lewis off rival captain Holder. (PTI)


JUST IN: It is still raining heavily and there will be further delay.



Over 39.2 | Score 199/3 | Virat Kohli 32(47b); MS Dhoni 9(9b)


Rain is back and players are off the field again.


FOUR! 38.5 over:  Yuvraj Singh c Lewis b Jason Holder 4(10) 


Dhoni hammered a full toss through covers for four.


After a short rain delay players are back in the middle.


Over 37 | Score 187/3 | Virat Kohli 29(40b); MS Dhoni 1(2b)


MS Dhoni comes in to replace Yuvraj Singh.


WICKET! 36.3 over:  Yuvraj Singh c Lewis b Jason Holder 4(10) 


Another soft dismissal. Yuvraj Singh hit it straight to mid-wicket and was caught by Lewis.


Over 32 | Score 168/2 |Virat Kohli 15(21b); Yuvraj Singh 0(1b)


Devendra Bishoo got the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan, thanks to a courageous call from umpire Kumar Dharamsala. Review confirmed the decision, but the Indian opener was not happy.


WICKET! 31.5 Over: Shikhar Dhawan lbw b Devendra Bishoo 87 (92b)


Yuvraj Singh is the new man for India. He gives company to skipper Virat Kohli.


In the last five overs, India scored 21 runs and lost a wicket.


Over 28 | Score 151/1 | Shikhar Dhawan 78(80b); Virat Kohli 7(10b)


Windies finally break the opening stand. Skipper Virat Kohli replaces Ajinkya Rahane in the middle. 150 up for India.


WICKET! 24.6 over: Ajinkya Rahane c Jason Holder b Alzarri Joseph 62(78) 


Soft dismissal for Rahane as short delivery did the trick for Holder.


Over 24 | Score 129/0 | Ajinkya Rahane 60(75b); Shikhar Dhawan 65(69b)


100 up for India as both Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane brought up their fifties.


FIFTY! 20.6 over: Miguel Cummins to Ajinkya Rahane


Rahane scored his first ODI fifty in 5 months and 17th overall.


FIFTY! 22.1 over: Alzarri Joseph to Shikhar Dhawan


Shikhar Dhawan got to his 20th fifty with a huge six.


Over 20 | Score 96/0 | Ajinkya Rahane 48(64b); Shikhar Dhawan 45(56b)


In the last five overs, India have added another 28 runs with both the openers controlling the proceedings at Port of Spain.


There were anxious moments for India in the 20th over. Devendra Bishoo had a good shout for LBW against Ajinkya Rahane, then, off the next ball, Shikhar Dhawan almost got himself run out after he backed-up some distance. Luckily for him, the ball didn't hit the target at the non-striker's end.


Windies have introduced second spinner, in the form of Bishoo, in the 18th over. The leg spinner did well to concede only a single to Rahane.


In the previous over, Ashley Nurse leaked five singles as Indian openers continued to milk.


Jason Holder has so far utilised five bowlers, including himself, without success.


Over 15 | Score 74/0 | Ajinkya Rahane 38(47b); Shikhar Dhawan 33(43b)


15 overs gone and India are well placed as openers Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan are going strong.


Over 13 | Score 59/0 | Ajinkya Rahane 32(40b); Shikhar Dhawan 25(38b)


50-run stand comes up between Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan in the 11th over.


FOUR! 11.4 over: Miguel Cummins to Ajinkya Rahane


Rahane pulled a short ball by Cummins over midwicket for a boundary.


Over 10 | Score 47/0 | Ajinkya Rahane 22(31b); Shikhar Dhawan 23(29b)


10 overs gone and India are well-placed in the game so far.


FOUR! 8.5 over: Jason Holder to Ajinkya Rahane


Another short ball and Rahane placed it through the gap between point and cover for a four.


FOUR! 9.1 over: Alzarri Joseph to Ajinkya Rahane


Rahane smashed Joseph's pitched up delivery through cover.


Over 8 | Score 35/0 | Ajinkya Rahane 11(21b); Shikhar Dhawan 22(27b)


Things are going great for India in the middle as the West Indies bowlers are toiling hard to stop the visitors.


FOUR! 5.6 over: Alzarri Joseph to Ajinkya Rahane


First boundary for Rahane. He punched a short ball from Joseph through point for four.


FOUR! 6.3 over: Jason Holder to Shikhar Dhawan


The most animated shot of the match so far came from the willow of Dhawan. Both his feet were up in the air as he pulled a short ball from Holder over point for a four.


Over 4 | Score 21/0 | Ajinkya Rahane 3(10b); Shikhar Dhawan 16(14b)


Good start for India as Shikhar Dhawan is able to find the gaps early on in the innings.


FOUR! 1.3 over: Alzarri Joseph to Shikhar Dhawan


First boundary of the game. Shikhar Dhawan rode the bounce and placed it through point. 


FOUR! 3.1 over: Alzarri Joseph to Shikhar Dhawan


There was width on offer and Dhawan sliced it through point. 


Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan are at the crease. Jason Holder will open the attack for the West Indies.


Big news. Kuldeep Yadav is making his ODI debut.


Playing XIs:


India: Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (C), Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (WK), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav


West Indies: Evin Lewis, Kieran Powell, Shai Hope (WK), Jason Mohammed, Roston Chase, Jonathan Carter, Jason Holder (C), Ashley Nurse, Devendra Bishoo, Alzarri Joseph, Miguel Cummins


TOSS: Windies captain Jason Holder wins the toss and he opted to bowl first.


Virat Kohli-led India will take on West Indies in the first match of the limited-overs series today. The hosts have a challenging task ahead of them with Jason Holder being their most capped player with 58 games.


Men in Blue might have failed to win their second consecutive ICC Champions Trophy despite making it to the finals, they are still a force to reckon with in limited-overs cricket. Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh are all seasoned campaigners and the hosts will have to play out of their skins to put a good show against them.


In the absence of their key players, West Indies are no more a decent side in the 50-over format. Holder and Devendra Bishoo are the only two players who will have to bring all their experience into count to put a good show against Kohli's men.


The series will be a good opportunity for somebody like Ajinkya Rahane, who didn't play in any of the matches in Champions Trophy. Kohli has made it clear that he will be opening the innnings in all the five ODIs.


Here is all you need to know about today's match:


Squads:


India: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Kedar Jadhav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Umesh Yadav.


West Indies: Jason Holder (Captain), Jonathan Carter, Miguel Cummins, Alzarri Joseph, Jason Mohammed, Kieran Powell, Kesrick Williams, Devendra Bishoo, Roston Chase, Shai Hope (WK), Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell.


Date & Time: June 23 (Friday) at 06:30 pm IST


Venue: Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad


TV Listing: Sony Six and Sony Six HD in English, and Ten 1 HD and Ten 3 in Hindi.


Online Streaming: Hotstar