IND vs WI: 2nd T20I Review – Visitors outmatch hosts to level series
West Indies hit back with a brilliant performance in Thiruvananthapuram, beating India by 8 wickets in the second T20I. After enduring a Virat Kohli masterclass in Hyderabad, the visitors needed a big performance to stay alive in the series. That’s exactly what they came up with, levelling the score 1-1. A disciplined effort with the ball was followed by a whirlwind performance with the bat. They outmatched the hosts in all the three departments of the game, coming away with a well-deserved victory. The result now brilliantly sets up the series decider on December 11th in Mumbai.
Check out the full scorecard here
Dube, Pant help India to a competitive score
Opting to bowl first on a sluggish track, the West Indies bowlers showed great discipline upfront. They took the pace off the ball and the spinners too varied their speeds. This made life extremely difficult for the Indian stroke-making batters, who love the ball to come on to the bat. Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli all found it difficult to make any sort of a telling contribution. But it was India’s designated big hitters – Shivam Dube and Rishabh Pant who helped the team to a competitive total of 170/7 on the board.
Promoting Dube to No.3 proved to be a masterstroke as he provided onus to a stuttering Indian innings. His knock of 54 off only 30 contained some massive hits. He punished the Windies medium-pacers with brutality, especially through the mid-wicket region. By the time he was dismissed in the 11th over, he had set the platform for the hosts to put up a score above the 160-run mark.
Pant then walked in and carried forward the momentum, despite getting minimal support from the other end. As the ball grew softer, it became extremely difficult to hit it out of the park. But Pant showed some great maturity, which he has often been accused of lacking. He batted till the end, scoring 33 off 22 deliveries, helping India to a total which would definitely pose a challenge to the opposition.
Windies make a mockery of the target
West Indies are rightfully regarded as one of the most mercurial units in world cricket. They tend to blow hot and cold – timid one day, sensational the other. But in Thiruvanthapuram, they showcased the flair which has made them such a popular side. Many believed that a target of 171 would prove to be a tough task on a low and slow wicket. Alas, the Windies had different plans altogether!
The openers Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis got them off to a brilliant start with a partnership of 73 runs on the board. They were greatly aided by another poor effort from the hosts on the field. Washington Sundar and Rishabh Pant were the culprits as they put down two catches in the same over by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. This gave the Windies a perfect platform.
Sundar dismissing Lewis on 40 did give the hosts some hope. But Hetmyer calmed the nerves, scoring 23 off 14 before perishing against Jadeja courtesy a brilliant catch for Kohli. Nicholas Pooran making a comeback after a ball-tampering ban then completely decimated the Indian bowling attack. His knock of 38 off 18 took the game away from India. Simmons anchored the innings at the other end, staying unbeaten on 67 off 45. The Windies chased the target with 9 balls to spare as the Indians were left wondering what had hit them.
