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 IND vs WI |  Spirited West Indies Pull Off Stunning Win In A Low-Scoring Thriller

image-lkvibs7nJason Holder with Chahal after the match (AP Photos)

The 200th T20I for India has ended in a disappointing note as West Indies have beaten them in a low-scoring thriller by 4 runs to take a much-needed 1-0 lead in the T20I series. The pitch at the Brian Lara Stadium was not an easy one for batting and West Indies bowlers made sure that they choke India with a disciplined performance.

India were actually favourites going into the second half as the Windies score of 149 looked below par but India kept losing wickets at regular intervals and the wickets of Pandya and Samson in quick succession proved costly in the end. 

Overall, this will be a big confidence booster for the hosts and it sets up the series nicely now going to Guyana for the second game.

Chahal-Arshdeep combine To Restrict West Indies To 149 Despite Pooran-Powell Antics

West Indies skipper, Rovman Powell decided to bat first after winning the toss and King got them off to a brisk start as well. However, Chahal produced magic in his first over and got rid of both King and Mayers in the fifth over of the game to put pressure on West Indies. Pooran though came out with superb intent and started taking on Indian from the word go. He got an able support from Powell but Hardik Pandya got the big wicket of Pooran in the 15th over and West Indies started losing momentum.

Arshdeep Singh then showed his brilliant death-bowling skills and with wickets of Hetmyer and Powell, he made sure that India were ahead going into the second half. Powell though scored 48 off 32 balls and his knock along with Pooran turned out to be the difference in the end.

Inexperienced India Choke As West Indies Produce Spirited Bowling Performance

In reply, India lost Gill in the third over itself and Kishan too lost his wicket in the fifth over as MI duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma were left to do the hard yards. Varma started off in a blistering fashion and when he and SKY were batting, it looked like India will pull off a clinical chase.

However,  Holder got the big wicket of SKY and then Shepherd got the wicket of impressive Tilak Varma to put the game in balance again. However, Hardik Pandya and Samson steadied the ship and at one point in time, India needed 37 off 30 balls with 6 wickets in hand. However, Holder bowled a brilliant 16th over, a double-wicket maiden which included the big fish Hardik and run out of Samson, which eventually changed the momentum completely.

Arshdeep Singh did try his best in the end but it proved too much for him as Obed McCoy and Shepherd kept their nerves to take West Indies to a 1-0 lead in this series.

Brief Scores

West Indies - 149/6 (20 Overs)

Rovman Powell - 48 (32), Nicholas Pooran - 41 (34)

Yuzvendra Chahal - 2/24, Arshdeep Singh - 2/31

India - 145-9 (20 overs)

Tilak Varma - 39 (22), Suryakumar Yadav - 21 (21)

 Jason Holder - 2/19,   Obed McCoy - 2/28

West Indies win by 4 runs!