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The Indian cricket team defeated West Indies by three runs in a high-scoring thriller in the first ODI of the three-match series at Queen’s Park Oval in the Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in the early hours of Saturday, July 23.

Defending 15 runs in the final over of an enthralling run-chase, India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj held his nerve and executed an exceptional over to help the visitors take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Earlier in the day, West Indies won the toss and opted to field as India rode on fifties from captain Shikhar Dhawan (97), Shubman Gill (64) and Shreyas Iyer (54) to post 308/7 in their allotted 50 overs.

In the absence of regular captain and opener Rohit Sharma, Dhawan and Gill got the visitors off to a magnificent start as the duo forged a 119-run partnership for the first wicket. However, an unfortunate run-out in the 18th over forced Gill to depart for a well-made 53-ball 64.

Shreyas Iyer joined Dhawan in the crease as both the batters continued to pile more pressure on the West Indies. Meanwhile, Dhawan was dismissed in the 90s for the sixth time in his ODI career as he missed his 18th 50-over hundred by just three runs.

Just when it seemed India would go past the 350-mark, the visitors lost Iyer (54), Suryakumar Yadav (13) and wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson (12) in quick succession.

Swashbuckling batter Deepak Hooda (27) and all-rounder Axar Patel (21) added some valuable runs in the death overs to help India post in excess of 300 on the board.

Chasing 309 on a good batting track, West Indies suffered early blow as opener Shai Hope (7) perished to Siraj in the fifth over of the run-chase.

Since then, the West Indies duo of Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks attacked the Indian bowlers to stitch a 117-run stand for the second wicket and bring the hosts back into the game.

In the meantime, Mayers brought up his maiden ODI fifty off just 42 balls before Shardul Thakur dismissed Brooks (46) and Mayers (75) in back-to-back overs.

West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran joined Brandon King as the duo added 51 runs off 56 balls to keep the hosts in the run chase.

Later, Siraj gave India the much-needed breakthrough as he bagged the important wicket of Pooran for 25 before leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal removed Rovman Powell (6) in the very next over.

With India in the driver’s seat in the opening ODI, King later constructed an impressive 56-run partnership with Akeal Hosein to give West Indies fresh hopes. King was soon dismissed by Chahal for 54.

While Hosein (32 not out) and Romario Shepherd (39 not out) smashed 53 runs off just 33 balls for the seventh wicket in the final overs, the hosts suffered a heartbreak as they fell short by three runs.

India and West Indies will resume rivalry in the second ODI at Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday, July 24. The match will start at 7 PM IST.