A century to West Indies opener Chris Gayle has proved in vain as skipper Rahul Dravid made a ton of his own and Mohammad Kaif an unbeaten 66 to lead India to a five-wicket win in their opening one-day clash at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
Gayle's 123 from 131 balls, including 18 fours and two sixes, paced the home side to 6-251 from its 45 overs in the rain-affected match, but Dravid's 10 fours and two sixes as he made 105 from 102 balls, and Kaif's 91-ball 66, led India to 5-254 from 44.5 overs.
Runako Morton played the anchor role with 23 in an 87-run opening stand with Gayle before he fell to Ajit Agarkar (2-38), and the score became 2-94 when Ramnaresh Sarwan (two) was dismissed by Harbhajan Singh (1-33).
Gayle was joined by Brian Lara and they added 81 but Munaf Patel (1-48) sent Lara on his way for 35 in the 32nd over, leaving Gayle to push on to his hundred before he fell to Agarkar and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (18) to Irfan Pathan (1-52).
Dravid lost opening partner Virender Sehwag (22) with the score on 56 when he was run out in the 10th over, and all-rounder Pathan (one) lasted just four balls before falling to Ian Bradshaw (2-40) two overs later, making it 2-62.
When Yuvraj Singh (12) became Bradshaw's second victim India had slumped to 3-86 in the 18th over, but Dravid and Kaif put on 123 at just under a run a ball to put India in the box seat.
When Dravid was dismissed by Dwayne Bravo (2-50) in the 39th over, India needed 43 to win from 37 balls, and Kaif guided his team home with help from Mahendra Dhoni (18 from 11) and Suresh Raina (seven not out).
