WI vs IND: 3rd T20I Review – Pant, Kohli drive India home after Chahar special
Riding on a sterling partnership between Captain Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, India cantered to a seven-wicket win over West Indies in the 3rd T20I played at the Providence Stadium, Guyana. The visitors thus completed their first leg of the tour with a comprehensive clean sweep of 3-0. Deepak Chahar had earlier wreaked havoc with his fiery three-for and Kohli-Pant guided the team home with their individual fifties.
Check out the full scorecard here
Deepak Chahar scythes through the West Indian top order
Chahar brothers (Deepak and Rahul) were included in the Indian bowling attack for the third T20I after missing out the first two games. Taking the new ball, Deepak was lethal in the powerplay overs. Using the outswinger to perfection, the medium-pacer quickly dispatched the Caribbean top order. The wickets of Narine, Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer left West Indies reeling at 14/3 in 3.5 overs. The hosts were in danger of registering another low total.
Pollards powers through
Taking stock of the situation, the experienced T20 batsman in Kieron Pollard woke up. The all-rounder started solidly and soon started punishing any loose ball delivered by the Indian bowlers. He was particularly severe on the spinners as he bashed three sixes in seven balls of debutant Rahul Chahar and Washington Sundar. Pollard brought up his fifty with a six. He fell in the 16th over after he had scored 58 from 45 balls with one four and six sixes.
Saini-Powell keep the contest alive
Navdeep Saini removed Pollard with a well-disguised slower ball. Carlos Brathwaite tried slogging the leggie, but Rahul picked him up after conceding a six. Rovman Powell took charge of the last over and with two sixes, helped the home side post a competitive total. With Powell’s 32 not out from 20 balls, West Indies registered 146/6 in 20 overs.
Sedate start for India
In the dead rubber, India decided to rest their in-form opener, Rohit Sharma. However, his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan failed to grab the opportunity and registered his third low score of the series. KL Rahul, playing his first match of the series, also got dismissed as he charged down the track to Fabian Allen. India found themselves at 27/2 in 4.4 overs.
Kohli-Pant complete a clinical chase
The IPL stalwarts batted calmly in the daunting chase. The Delhi duo of Kohli and Pant kept rotating the strike at every present opportunity and also struck boundaries when possible. The partnership changed gears in the 15th over. Seeing the required run rate go up, Kohli and Pant took on Keemo Paul and collected 14 runs from his over. The run-chase remained a mere formality in the end overs.
Against the run of play, Captain Kohli handed a catch to Evin Lewis standing at point. The batsman had added 59 from 45 balls before being dismissed. Pant ensured no such glitch in his knock and sealed the game with a winning six. He finished unbeaten on 65 from 42 balls as India won with five balls remaining.
Both the teams shall now meet again in the three-match ODI series which begins on 8th August (Thursday) at the same venue.
