Marlon Samuels led from the front as the West Indian batsmen pummelled the Indian bowlers for 321-6 in their fifty overs in the first ODI against India in Kochi.. Samuels scored his sixth ODI and he shared a record fourth wicket partnership of 165 in 23 overs with Denesh Ramdin who scored 61 off 59 balls.
Samuels capitalised on the good start provided by Dwayne Smith and the Bravo Brothers as he smashed the Indian bowlers all over the park without showing them any mercy. In the absence of Chris Gayle and Lendl Simmons, skipper Dwayne Bravo promoted himself up to open the innings and saw off the new ball without much difficulties before getting out to Mohammed Shami. Darren Bravo steadied the ship along with Smith and took West Indies to a stage from where they launch an attack against the Indian bowlers who are struggling to find the correct line and length. Smith and Bravo were dismissed by spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra respectively.
It was when Samuels and Ramdin joined together and frustrated the Indian bowlers. The duo were severe against the spinners as they smashed Jadeja and Mishra with ease. Samuels got to his fifty and accelerated in the later part of his innings. Samuels remained not out on 126 off 116 balls which had 11 fours and 4 sixes. And when Ramdin got out in the 46th over to Shami, the run rate dropped as West Indies lost the wickets of Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell in a single over bowled by Shami.
Indian pacers did a fantastic job in the slog overs as they applied the brakes on the runrate. Shami was the pick of the bowlers as finished with 4-66. India have their task cut when they comeout to bat even though the surface is flat and will assist the batsmen.