†INDIA v WEST INDIES 1987-88

At Calcutta, January 2. India won by 56 runs. Led for the first time by Shastri, and with a side containing three untried players, India ended a run of eight consecutive defeats by West Indies in one-day cricket. Taking into account that West Indies had batted second on all three occasions when India had beaten them, Shastri opted to bat on winning the toss. India confronted their opponents with a score of 222 founded on a second-wicket stand of 128 in 24 overs between Arun Lal, who made 51, and Amarnath, who batted with much authority for 70 off 83 balls, hitting nine fours. The loss of two quick wickets after their separation slowed India down, but the innings was given further substance by Azharuddin and Shastri. Except for Richardson, who was run out in an unfortunate manner, West Indies found runs hard to get on a pitch that had lost the little pace it had. Maninder Singh, who put the heaviest restraint on them, took his 50th one-day international wicket when he accounted for Greenidge.

Man of the Match: M. Amarnath.