Abhishek’s blitz, Arshdeep’s strikes help India beat West Indies by 14 runs in Indore, take 2-1 lead in T20I series | Cricket News
INDORE: A brilliant bowling display by India on a flat pitch with shorter boundaries at the Holkar Stadium guided them to a 14-run win over the West Indies and gave them a 2-1 lead in the series on Sunday.With dew not coming into play in the third T20I, India’s bowlers showcased their capabilities when the contest between bat and ball was evenly poised. They were on the money on most occasions, executed their plans perfectly and did not get rattled when the West Indies batters threatened to take the game away. In the end, the visitors were restricted to 209/7 while chasing a target of 224.It began up front when Mayank Yadav (0/34) bowled all his deliveries above 145 kmph, hurrying the batters and conceding just two runs in his opening over. In the next over, West Indies skipper Shai Hope (5, 5b; 1×4) tried to force the pace but was cleaned up by Arshdeep Singh (3/44).The West Indies then settled into a nice rhythm. They were not scoring at the rate India had managed in the Powerplay, but were doing enough to stay within touching distance of the required rate. Their charge was led by Shimron Hetmyer (43, 26b; 6×4, 2×6), who took the attack to the Indian bowlers. The left-hander had just taken 10 runs off two balls in the seventh over bowled by Naman Dhir (2/39), but on the very next delivery the off-spinner bowled a quicker ball with a flat trajectory that skidded on and rattled the stumps.The dismissal stalled the visitors’ scoring rate and they needed regular boundaries to stay in touch with the chase. Rovman Powell (5, 7b), who was struggling to get going, tried to force the issue but could only hit an Axar Patel (1/33) delivery straight down the throat of Ishan Kishan at deep mid-wicket. In the next over, Kamil Pooran (42, 27b; 3×4, 3×6) hit Dhir for three sixes before the Punjab all-rounder had him caught in the deep.India then bowled a series of tight overs through Prince Yadav (0/37), Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/19) and Arshdeep, pushing the required rate up to 15 an over. The visitors gave it their all, but the target ultimately proved too steep.Earlier, India were bowled out for 223 and owed much to the 108-run second-wicket partnership between Abhishek Sharma (69, 30b; 6×4, 5×6) and Ishan Kishan (37 18b; 6×4, 1×6), which came off just 40 deliveries and laid the platform for a total beyond 200.Uncertain about whether dew would come into play, India could not afford to take their foot off the pedal. However, in their attempt to keep the scoring rate as high as possible, they lost their way through the middle overs. Perhaps memories of the West Indies chasing down 250 in the previous game weighed heavily on their minds after being put in to bat.India managed just seven runs in the first two overs, with Sanju Samson (3, 6b) already back in the pavilion. But the floodgates opened thereafter as they added 80 runs in the next four overs to finish the Powerplay at 87/1. At one stage, they were cruising at 115/1 after 8.1 overs, with Abhishek and Ishan dispatching the West Indies bowlers all around the park.Then came the twist that knocked the wind out of India’s innings. The visitors tightened the screws, taking four wickets in the space of 16 balls to claw their way back into the contest.As in the previous match, Roston Chase (2/38) used his cricketing nous to spark the fightback with two wickets in the ninth over. He first had Kishan stumped, a ball after being hit for a six, to end the pair’s 108-run partnership. Two deliveries later, the off-spinner trapped skipper Shreyas Iyer lbw as the Indian captain looked to maintain the brisk scoring rate.Five balls later, it was Abhishek’s turn to depart after the left-hander skyed a short-of-a-length delivery from Shamar Springer (2/50). Naman Dhir (10, 5b; 1×4, 1×6) looked promising, launching Gudakesh Motie (1/37) over mid-on for six, but the left-arm spinner had the last laugh two balls later as the right-hander holed out at long-off.India were suddenly reduced to 135/5 after 10.5 overs. The batters who followed got starts but failed to convert them into substantial contributions.
