Rohit Sharmar ensures easy win for India over Windies

Rohit Sharma hit an unbeaten 68 to steer India to a comfortable win over West Indies in their opening one-day international in Trinidad.West Indies won the toss and elected to bat, but were limited to 214-9 despite Ramnaresh Sarwan and Marlon Samuels both scoring half centuries.World champions India were reduced to 104-4 in reply but Sharma and Suresh Raina put on 80 for the fifth wicket.Harbhajan Singh smashed a six to seal victory with 31 balls to spare.India, who were playing in their first ODI since winning the 50-over World Cup on home soil in April, defeated their opponents in a Twenty20 match on Saturday and looked in control of Monday’s contest when Samuels departed in the 42nd over with the West Indies on 177-5.Harbhajan took 3-32, including the crucial wickets of Dwayne Bravo, who was stumped by Parthiv Patel, and Carton Baugh, who was trapped lbw while attempting a sweep.India lost three early wickets and then saw Shikhar Dhawan depart for 51 but Sharma and skipper Suresh Raina provided some middle-order stability.Raina eventually departed for 43, caught at deep midwicket off the bowling of Anthony Martin to leave India at 184-5 but, despite a bout of cramp for Sharma, victory was in sight and Singh finished the job with more than five overs left.The second of the five one-day international series takes place in Trinidad on Wednesday. – BBC