WI vs IND | Pooran & Bowlers Star as West Indies Take 2-0 Lead With Two-Wicket Win Over India
Nicholas Pooran hammered a flamboyant fifty [Twitter]
The West Indies took a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against India following a convincing two-wicket victory at Providence Stadium, Guyana, on Sunday (August 6). However, despite restricting India to 152/7, they found themselves in difficult situation before getting over the line.
Nicholas Pooran went ballistic before Joseph & Hosein got WI over the finish line
Chasing 153, the West Indies got off to a horrible start, losing Brandon King on the opening delivery of the innings. They lost another wicket three balls later, bringing the score to 2/2.
Nicholas Pooran walked into the middle thereafter and changed the course of the game completely. The stylish batter hammered four sixes and six fours in his 40-ball 67 and forged a 57-run partnership with Rovman Powell (21) to reach 89 in 9.5 overs.
Shimron Hetmyer joined hands afterward, and Pooran added 37 more runs to get to 126 at the end of 14 overs. By the time Pooran lost the wicket, there was little chance of the West Indies losing the game. But the hosts slipped from 126/4 to 129/8 in little time, with Yuzvendra Chahal doing the most damage with a double strike.
However, Akeal Hossein and Alzarri Joseph showcased nerves of steel, as they took their side past the finishing line with seven balls to spare.
Tilak Varma stole the show again in India's sorrow batting display
Tilak Varma became the second-youngest Indian player to notch a T20I fifty (AP Photos)
Earlier in the game, Tilak Varma kept up his impressive play by hitting a thrilling 41-ball 51 with the help of five fours and a six. Ishan Kishan (27) and Hardik Pandya (24) got starts but failed to pick up speed to take their side to a massive total.
No one in India's top seven batsmen had a strike rate higher than 135, which prevented them from taking control of the game at any point during their batting innings.
Similar to the series opener, West Indies players bowled brilliantly in Guyana, with Alzarri Joseph, Akeal Hosein, and Romario Shepherd taking two wickets each. Obed McCoy and Jason Holder impressed as well, conceding 54 runs off their combined eight overs, albeit failing to scalp a wicket.
West Indies and India will meet again on Tuesday (August 8) at the same venue, with India aiming to keep the series alive by pulling one back.
Brief Scores
India: 152/7 (20)
Tilak Varma 51, Ishan Kishan 27;
Alzarri Joseph 2/28, Romario Shepherd 2/28
West Indies: 155/8 (18.5)
Nicholas Pooran 67, Shimron Hetmyer 22;
Hardik Pandya 3/35, Yuzvendra Chahal 2/19
West Indies won by two wickets.
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