WI vs IND: 2nd T20I Review – Rohit, Krunal star as India seal series
Team India sealed the three-match T20I series against West Indies, winning the second T20I through DLS method. The visitors would win the contest by 22 runs after a thunderstorm brought a premature end to the game in Florida. Batting first, India managed to put up a competitive total of 167/5 on the board. Rohit Sharma was again the hero with the bat with a sublime half-century. Krunal Pandya was also a handy contributor, scoring some valuable runs and picking up a couple of wickets. Chasing the score down, West Indies never took control of the contest. When the rain eventually interfered, India were miles ahead on the DLS equation. The result means that India have now taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Check out the full scorecard here
Rohit continues golden run
Rohit Sharma is in the form of his life. Never ever in his highly successful career has the Hitman timed the ball better. After his exploits in the World Cup, Rohit again stroked his way to a classy half-century. He and Dhawan first got India off to a steady start with a 68 run stand. After Dhawan perished, Rohit took upped the ante as Kohli established himself on the crease. The two stalwarts established a partnership of 48 before Rohit finally departed for a well-made 67 off only 51 deliveries. The platform was perfectly set for the Indian middle-order to launch an all-out assault.
India stumble as Windies mount fightback
The momentum of the Indian innings was never the same after Rohit’s departure. The run-rate started to steadily crawl down and wickets started to fall at regular intervals. Two hopefuls for a permanent berth in the side, Manish Pandey and Rishabh Pant failed to make a mark. Kohli also could not build upon his solid start, perishing on 28. The two big Jamaicans, Oshane Thomas and Sheldon Cottrell were exceptional and it seemed as their efforts would contain India under the 150-run mark. But some fireworks from Pandya at the end ensured that India finished with a total of 167/5. Krunal scored 20 runs in only 12 deliveries with two big sixes in the final over.
Horror start for the Windies
Chasing a total down against a good bowling unit, it was paramount for the West Indies to have a good start. But the openers again failed to establish a steady platform. While Lewis was out for a duck against Bhuvneshar, the promoted Narine could only muster up 4 runs before being bowled by Sundar.
Pooran and Powell rebuild before Krunal works his magic
Rovman Powell seemed to be a man on a mission. After two early wickets, many would have written the Caribbean outfit off. But Powell with another young gun, Pooran started to give India some massive headaches. Powell launched a counter-attack, which not only kept the scoreboard ticking but also kept the run-rate in check. Pooran though eating up some deliveries, gave Powell support from the other end. But it was Krunal who would again come up with a game-changing moment. In the 14th over, he would pick up both the scalps of Powell (54 off 34) and Pooran (19 off 34) to change the complexion of the match. India now had the control of the game as the required rate was creeping up before bad weather forced the two teams off the field. Rain would eventually end up playing spoilsport as there would be no further play. West Indies would end up with a score of 98/4 in 15.3 overs, losing the game by 22 runs by the DLS method.
