Players Details
Fixture & Results
India carve facile victory
16th February 2022
India motored home reaching 162 for four with seven balls to spare against West Indies chasing 157 in the first of the three T20 ties at Eden Gardens today.
Suryakumar Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer batted intelligently after the visitors pulled the brakes on Indian innings with three quick wickets. The duo put on a partnership of 48 runs for the fifth wicket as they remained unbeaten on 34 (18 balls) and 24 (13 balls) respectively to see India home.
Earlier, India began on a blistering pace with Rohit Sharma sending the WI fielders on a leather hunt. Before blinking, he reached 40 off just 19 balls. Ishan Kishan made a fine 35 before being caught in the deep of Roston Chase. Virat Kohli flattered to deceive once again as he holed out to Pollard at long on for 17 off Fabian Allan.
The highlight of Indian bowling was Ravi Bishnoi, who became the first player from the 2020 ICCU19 WC team to make a senior appearance. And on his debut he could not have asked for a better figure. He finished his four overs for a miserly 17 runs with two wickets in his kitty. His wickets of Roston Chase and Rovman Powell also meant that the Caribbean middle order fell flat. Another two wickets by Harshal patel and one each from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar and Yuzvendra Chahal kept the WI in check.
Nicholas Pooran’s innings of carefree aggression set up the West Indian total. He was dismissed for 61 off 43 deliveries (4x4, 5x6) caught by Virat Kohli at long on of Harshal Patel.
He got some support from Kyle Mayers (31 off 24) and Kieron Pollard 24 not out off 19 balls, as the visitors put up a moderate 157 for seven on a wicket that looked brimming with runs.
CAB MEDIA DESK
Arindam Basu
