India vs West Indies: Persistent rain forces 1st ODI to be abandoned | Cricket - Hindustan Times
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India vs West Indies: Persistent rain forces 1st ODI to be abandoned

Hindustan Times, Trinidad | By
Jun 24, 2017 01:47 AM IST

Persistent rain forced the first ODI between India vs West Indies in Port of Spain, Trinidad to be abandoned after India had reached 199/3, thanks to fifties from Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan.

Rain played spoilsport on Friday as the first ODI between India and West Indies was abandoned with India batting for only 39.5 overs. They made 199/3 in that period.(IND vs WI HIGHLIGHTS)

Persistent rain forced the first ODI between India vs West Indies to be abandoned in Port of Spain. This was the second consecutive abandoned international match between these two teams at this venue.(AP)
Persistent rain forced the first ODI between India vs West Indies to be abandoned in Port of Spain. This was the second consecutive abandoned international match between these two teams at this venue.(AP)

India had got off to a strong start and with the openers putting on 132 in 25 overs and setting a platform. Shikhar Dhawan made 87 while Ajinkya Rahane scored 62 on his return to the team. (IND vs WI SCORECARD)

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But just as Virat Kohli (32 no) and MS Dhoni (9 no) were beginning to show urgency, rain forced a break with India 189/3 in 38 overs. The players returned to the field after a little while after the skies became clear. However, rain returned forcing players out after just five more deliveries were bowled.

From then on, it was just a wait and on a couple of occasions it looked like the game would resume but for only showers to spoil chances. Eventually a target of 196 in 26 overs was set for West Indies and just as the crease was being drawn, it began pelting.

Earlier, Yuvraj Singh failed, scoring just four off 10 balls. The pressure is on him to prove his worth as he eyes a selection for the World Cup 2019.

Kohli has been backing the southpaw, but going by the way he has been performing, it seems it’ll be hard for him to keep his place unless he does extraordinarily well with the bat.

Shikhar Dhawan was the star with 87 as India eyed a big total. (AFP)
Shikhar Dhawan was the star with 87 as India eyed a big total. (AFP)

On Thursday, at the practice session, Yuvi had a long session against the spinners, usually his problem area. However on Friday, it was West Indies captain Jason Holder who got him out through a soft dismissal. Yuvraj tried to flick through the leg-side but was caught at midwicket by local player Ewin Lewis, falling for just four.

India, asked to bat first by Holder, had made a superb start.

After the openers set them the platform, India lost three quick wickets and were 189/3 after 38 overs when rain interrupted the match for an hour. Play resumed only for it to be stopped after nine more deliveries with more showers forcing players in.

Yuvi’s problems

This weak West Indies attack is expected to provide an excellent opportunity to Yuvraj to cement his place. But Friday’s failure continues his recent ordinary run with only a half-century against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy group stage worth remembering.

In the final against Pakistan, Yuvraj fell clumsily, exposing his chinks against spinners. Leggie Shadab Khan first deceived him with a wrong ‘un and then got him leg-before.

On Friday, he was brought under pressure by leg spinner Devendra Bishoo, who kept a leash on scoring. He couldn’t get runs in the first few deliveries from Bishoo when the need of the hour was big hitting as India approached the death overs.

The pressure built and he tried to work a Jason Holder delivery through the leg-side, only for Lewis to intercept and force Yuvraj to return to the pavilion.

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