India vs West Indies: The Indian team held on their nerves and defended the 187-run target vs West Indies to seal their 100th T20I win and unassailable series lead in Kolkata on Friday.
IND vs WI: India defend 187 to seal T20I series against West Indies (AP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- India defeated West Indies by eight runs to take 2-0 series lead
- India defended the 187-run target vs West Indies to seal their 100th T20I win
- Harshal Patel managed to hold his nerve and defend 25 runs in the final over
Rovman Powell’s belligerent hitting in the last over was not enough for West Indies as India defended the 187-run target vs West Indies to seal their 100th T20I win and unassailable series lead in Kolkata on Friday. Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant’s quality knocks were backed up by a spirited bowling performance at the death by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel as India defeated West Indies by eight runs.
Pooran and Rovman Powell kept West Indies in the chase as the duo mixed caution with aggression and after 15 overs, the Windies’ score read 124/2, needing 63 runs to win from 30 balls. Pooran (62) finally departed in the penultimate over on the bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with the Windies needing 28 runs to win from nine balls. This wicket brought an end to the 100-run stand for the third wicket.
In the second-last over of the game, Bhuvneshwar Kumar conceded just four runs and as a result, the visitors were required to score 25 runs in the final over to win the game. Harshal Patel managed to hold his nerve and in the end, India registered a win.
That’s that from 2nd T20I. A nail biting finish as #TeamIndia win by 8 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.@Paytm #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/blSuQYQvlv
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 18, 2022
Earlier in the day, Virat Kohli hit his 30th T20I fifty while Rishabh Pant smashed a quick-fire unbeaten 52 to help India post 186 for five after being put to bat first.
India vs West Indies, 2nd T20I highlights
Kohli hit his 30th fifty in the shortest format, his first since the 57 versus Pakistan in the T20 World Cup on October 24 last year. But Kohli failed to make it big and was cleaned up by Chase two balls later after the Windies off-spinner breached his gate for his third wicket.
Chase was impressive in the middle overs to return with 3/25, which included the wickets of Rohit Sharma (19) and Suryakumar Yadav (8). Thereafter, it was Pant and Venkatesh Iyer (33 from 18 balls) showing on offer as they took charge against the likes of Kieron Pollard and Romario Shepherd in their 76-run partnership from 35 balls.
Pant (52 off 28 balls) brought up his third fifty in T20Is with a double on the penultimate delivery of the innings, taking just 27 balls to get to the milestone. Earlier, India got off to a slow start with Sheldon Cottrell bowling four dots on the trot before dismissing Ishan Kishan in the second over of the day.
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