India win first ODI by 14 runs

India won the first one day international of the three match series with West Indies by 14 runs. Chasing a target of 338, the Windies made 324, with a superb unbeaten knock of 149 from Shivnarain Chanderpaul. Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh took two wickets each.

Earlier, Sourav Ganguly celebrated his return to limited-overs cricket a confident knock of 98 Sunday as India posted an imposing 338 for three in the series opener against the West Indies. Returning to limited-overs internationals after 16 months following his public spat with national team coach Greg Chappell, Ganguly pressed for inclusion in India's squad for the upcoming World Cup by smashing three huge sixes and 11 boundaries in a 109-ball innings.

Ganguly seemed on course for his 23rd century from 280 one-day internationals when Brian Lara, from short-midwicket, ran him out with a direct hit at the non-striker's end. Opening the innings after West Indies skipper Lara won the toss and sent India to bat first, Ganguly was involved in two brisk stands. He put on 144 for the opening wicket with Gautam Gambhir, another left-hander making a comeback to the one-day team, and added 70 with Sachin Tendulkar for the second wicket.

Ganguly, 34, was India's most successful captain, leading the team to victories in 21 tests and 76 one-dayers. He figures in the exclusive group of five batsmen who have compiled over 10,000 runs in limited-overs internationals. It was under Ganguly's captaincy that India entered the final of the 2003 World Cup, but poor form and a clash with the coach in 2005 led to his departure from the one-day side. Ganguly has since featured in some test matches, earning a recall to the limited-overs squad after emerging as the top scorer during India's disastrous recent tour of South Africa.

Ganguly completed his half-century from 54 deliveries on the lifeless track at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium by lofting medium-pacer Daren Powell for six over long-off. Ganguly threw a punch in the air toward the Indian team's dressing room.

When Lara introduced spin to the bowling attack, Ganguly clouted a delivery from left-armer Chris Gayle over long-off and the ball landed outside the stadium after clearing the spectator galleries.

Gambhir posted his second half-century from 17 one-dayers, scoring an aggressive 76-ball 69 before cutting Gayle into the hands of Marlon Samuels at backward-point. Gambhir's knock contained 10 boundaries.

Tendulkar, moved down the batting order from his opening slot, contributed 31 before Gayle trapped him lbw. Mahendra Dhoni and captain Rahul Dravid continued to punish the West Indies attack, adding 119 runs for their unbroken fourth-wicket stand from just 71 deliveries.

Dhoni remained unbeaten on 62 while Dravid finished on 54 not out.

Source : msn.co.in