Kemar Roach and Jason Holder were the standouts but the West Indies face a testing target to stay alive in the World Cup after India amassed 268 for seven at Old Trafford.
The seamers were rewarded for probing lines and lengths as they combined for figures of five for 69 from their 20 overs, with India ponderous until Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Hardik Pandya injected some late impetus to the innings.
Virat Kohli's 72 off 82 balls on a pitch offering a hint of movement and some turn was his fourth consecutive half-century, though a three-figure score in this tournament remains elusive.
Anything short of a length was dispatched, as Oshane Thomas found out when crunched for two sixes in the final over by Dhoni, who was given a life on eight before posting an unbeaten 56 from 61 balls
As against Afghanistan, India's middle order was particularly unconvincing but the Windies were perhaps given a boost by technology after being asked to bowl first under glorious blue skies.
Rohit Sharma dismissed Roach over midwicket for six before driving him straight for four, but the dangerous opener was on his way back to the pavilion for a punchy 18, a Windies review paying off handsomely as Ultraedge detected a noise when the ball passed the inside edge.
WICKET! 👆 #JasonHolder opts for the review and Rohit falls to Roach – the Indian opener goes for 18. #WIvIND#MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/zeP717Pkt0 — Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 27, 2019
The original not out decision was overturned and Rohit shook his head on his way off the field, replaced by Kohli to raucous noise from a sea of blue in the crowd.
The India captain settled manfully to his task but Holder initially stymied the momentum and then removed KL Rahul, cleaned up for 48 by one that jagged back in and clipped the top of his off-stump.
Kohli drove uppishly to the extra cover boundary off the wayward Thomas to move to 49 before bringing up a 55-ball fifty, but Roach's return to the attack saw Vijay Shankar and Kedar Jadhav edge behind.
This man today: 🔟-0️⃣-3️⃣6️⃣-3️⃣ 👏👏, @KemarAJR! pic.twitter.com/eq13hMTrh8 — Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 27, 2019
Roach ended with a flourish, conceding only 15 runs from his final five overs to finish with 10-0-36-3.
Dhoni was given a reprieve on eight, skipping down to Fabian Allan – who alongside Sunil Ambris was making his World Cup bow – only for wicketkeeper Shai Hope to juggle the ball and twice miss the stumping.
But as Kohli seemed destined for a century, he departed in tame fashion to opposite number Holder.
DIAMOND CUTS DIAMOND – India lose their fifth wicket 👀 #JasonHolder dismisses #ViratKohli for 72 – big fish! #WIvIND | #MenInMaroon | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/BLQtyicn71 — Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 27, 2019
Perhaps deceived by one that stuck a little in the pitch, Kohli offered catching practice to substitute fielder Darren Bravo at short midwicket as Holder finished with 10-2-33-2.
The likes of Sheldon Cottrell, Thomas and Carlos Brathwaite were unable to keep up the pressure but both Dhoni and Pandya (46 off 38 balls) occasionally rode their luck in a useful 70-run stand as the innings reached a crescendo.
Dhoni, who was on 18 off 38 balls at one stage, upped the tempo and lifted India to a competitive total by taking 16 runs from the final over.
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