India blow Windies away with 63-run win

Saturday, 25 June 2011 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

India underlined their status as the world No.1 Test cricket side with a comfortable 63-run victory over the West Indies in the first Test.

The Indians successfully defended a victory target of 326 on Thursday when they dismissed the Windies for 262 in their second innings on the fourth day at Sabina Park.

Suresh Raina formalised the result when he bowled Devendra Bishoo behind his back for 26 about 35 minutes after lunch.

The victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second Test set to start on Tuesday at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

“Three-hundred was always going to be a difficult score to chase in the fourth innings,” said Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

“They were off to a flyer, but wickets always slow down the momentum, and we were able to apply pressure on their middle order.”

Praveen Kumar finished with 3-42 from 16 overs, Ishant Sharma ended with 3-81 from 17 overs and Amit Mishra captured 2-62 from 13 overs.

India’s bowlers were again virtuous with their line and length, and none of the remaining West Indies batsmen showed the kind of resolve to resist, after the hosts resumed on 3-131.

Before lunch, six wickets - two apiece for Kumar and Mishra - put India on the verge, sinking the West Indies to 9-226.

Kumar removed the overnight pair of Darren Bravo, bowled behind his back for 41, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, caught at extra cover for 30, inside the first half hour.

Harbhajan Singh then spoiled Carlton Baugh’s 29th birthday celebrations, when he had him caught at leg-slip for a duck, leaving the West Indies 6-150.

India’s champion off-spinner was, however, quickly removed from the attack, when West Indies’ captain Darren Sammy launched him for three successive sixes over long-on into the Great Northern Stand.

But Mishra cut short Sammy’s fun when he had him caught at extra cover for 25 and inflicted more agony on the hosts when he had Brendan Nash lbw for nine attempting an ugly slog, leaving the hosts reeling on 8-188. India again met some resistance from the West Indies’ tail, with Ravi Rampaul making a strong case for a promotion in the home team’s batting order, stroking 34 before he was caught behind, gloving a snorter from Sharma.