KOCHI, India (CMC) — Captain Dwayne Bravo says a pitch in which the ball kept low frequently ought not to be blamed for West Indies loss to India in the opening match of their three-game series on Thursday.

Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels were victims of deliveries that squatted as West Indies failed to defend a victory target of 212 and lost by six wickets at the Nehru stadium.

“We can’t blame the pitch. Both teams played on it. Nothing changed,” said Bravo.

“Unfortunately we end up on the side [with] the luck not going our way. India are playing good cricket at the moment and the luck and momentum is on their side”.

Bravo had gathered a workmanlike 59 and opener Johnson Charles made 42, as West Indies were dismissed for 211 in 48.5 overs, after they chose to bat.

“Two of our better players got starts and were unable to carry on because of deliveries that kept very low,” Bravo pointed out.

“In the Indian innings some balls kept low as well, but they were not [on target].”

Bravo said his side would have to “dig deeper and work harder” to overcome hosts India in the remaining two matches of their One-day International series.

“We did not maintain our discipline long enough, and so we ended up on the losing side,” said the Windies captain.

“A total of 210 on that pitch with a small outfield was never going to be enough, even if a few deliveries kept low, we still needed to do a lot better.”

The second ODI between West Indies and India will be played at the Reddy Stadium in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam tomorrow.