India started their campaign for redemption on a high note as Yuvraj Singhs stunning century propelled them to 339 for six in their 50 overs in the first one-dayer against the West Indies in Jamaica on Friday. Yuvraj,one of the only bright sparks in Indias dismal World Twenty20 championships earlier this month,continued from where he had left off in England,smashing seven sixes and 10 boundaries in his 102-ball 131. His innings made it easy to forget that India,having chosen to bat first,were in considerable trouble early in their innings. And it was once again their allergy to the short-pitched ball that West Indies exploited,even on a track that held no terrors for the batsmen. Gautam Gambhir started things off with a six off the first ball of the innings,but fell,yet again,to a bouncer from Jerome Taylor,his ungainly pull shot failing to clear Dwayne Bravo at square-leg. Rohit Sharma,who walked in at No 3 with Dinesh Karthik taking over at the top,looked comfortable until he was caught off Lionel Bakers leg-cutting bouncer,which he tried to pull from way outside off-stump. At 32 for two in the eighth over,India were on shaky ground. But Yuvraj Singh,peppered with a few bouncers when he walked in,had the situation well in control,and took his time in settling down. Only 20 runs came off the first 38 deliveries the left-hander faced,and there was no sign of the carnage to come. He took off in the 22nd over of the innings,smashing Chris Gayle over the mid-wicket boundary for a six. After that,there was no stopping him. All the West Indian bowlers suffered. Gayle was taken for 28 off his three overs,Taylor finished with figures of one for 74 off his 10,while Lionel Baker went for 62 in nine. Only left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn showed some sort of control,returning with a respectable none for 50. This was Yuvrajs 12th one-day international century,and his innings completely overshadowed the steady hand provided by makeshift opener Karthik,who scored 67 off 77 balls. Their partnership of 135 runs ended when Karthik edged one to Denesh Ramdin with the team total on 167. But between them,they had done enough to set the stage for a late onslaught. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni,so woefully out of touch in the T20 format of late,guided the final assault with a 46-ball 41 a knock that included a powerfully flicked six over the long-on fence as the third power play cost the West Indies 62 runs. Yusuf Pathan (40 not out) and Harbhajan Singh (21 not out) finished things off in style for the tourists,who must be pleased with the way the tour started.
