Putting aside talks of a mismatch, West Indies put up a brave fight in the first Test at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla but couldn't prevent India from registering a comfortable victory by five wickets on the fourth day to take a 1-0 lead.

The hosts came from behind after conceding a 95-run lead in the first innings but then bowled out West Indies for a paltry 180 to limit the target to a manageable 276 on a fast-deteriorating Kotla pitch.

India's run-chase had a solid foundation laid by Virender Sehwag's fifty on day three, and Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman blunted every challenge posed by the Windies on Wednesday.However, it was heartbreak for the crowd as Tendulkar once again failed to complete his ton of tons.

After Tendulkar brought up his 62nd half-century, all eyes were on him even as strokes came with regularity off Laxman's bat. Tendulkar reacted by playing a few aggressive strokes that swelled his score to 76. But he misread the length of a Devendra Bishoo delivery and was adjudged lbw on 76.

Rahul Dravid, though, was the first man to fall on day four when Fidel Edwards sent his stumps cartwheeling to reduce India to 162/3. Dravid could add only one run to his overnight score of 30.

Tendulkar and Laxman then combined for a fluent 71-run partnership, which ended with the former's dismissal when India needed just 43 more to win.

Yuvraj Singh and Laxman then took the total to 254/4 at lunch as India scored 102 runs in the first session off 29 overs.

Laxman then returned to complete his 55th half-century in the post-Lunch session, off 91 balls. It was ahis 11th against the West Indies. However, Yuvraj continued his bad run, out for 18 when India needed just one run to win.

MS Dhoni then came out to accompany Laxman, who hit the winning boundary to end unbeaten on 61 as India won by five wickets.

The match belonged to Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin, who was named Man of the Match. Ojha ended with match figures of 7/103 while debutant Ashwin had the second best match figures on debut (9/128) by an Indian. For West Indies, Shivnarine Chanderpaul was the star with 165 runs (118 and 47) in the match.

The second Test begins from November 14 at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.