T20 Match 5, The deciding Match of this 5-match series. India won Match 4, in a dramatic and dominating fashion. India won this toss and elected to bat first. The decision to bat first may have been influenced by the batting performance of those rising stars of India. However, fans and supporters of the game of cricket are aware that cricket is a game where the unexpected can turn your game plan upside down.
The stars of India came out to bat on a day that was heavy with cloud obscuring the light. Jaiswal (5 runs), and Gill (9 runs), failed to see through the cloud of Akeal Hosein who was responsible for their departures inside of 3 overs, and Tilak Varma (27 runs), followed shortly, he was out to a brilliant caught and bowled by Roston Chase. India is now 66 for 3 wickets in the 8th over.
When the second cloud rolled by, it was in the form of Romario Shepherd. Four wickets for 31 runs later, and India has struggled to 165/9 after 20 overs.
When the West Indies batted, the out-of-form Kyle Mayers was out in the first over, with West Indies having 12 runs on the board. Nicholas Pooran joined Brandon King, and both flipped the run tap to the on position and a century run partnership followed. Pooran was out for 47 runs in the 14th over. The West Indies score at this time was 119 for two wickets loss. The Inform Shai Hope joined Brandon King for a fifty-run partnership that sealed victory for the West indies, 171/2.
Congratulations to the West Indies, a very unexpected series 3 to 2 win. Last achieved 6 years previously. Commiserations to India, who must accept blame in part for questionable tactical decisions, such as carrying 6 bowlers into this final match of the series, and maybe gross over confidence.
At the end of Match 3, I invited cricket fans to hurry and purchase tickets for match 4. Match 4 is the first of 2 matches scheduled for Lauderhill, Florida.
With the West Indies leading the series at 2 – 1, this match is likely the deciding match of the series. And West Indies are keen to show that under the leadership of new coach, Daren Sammy, and captain Rovman Powell, that the echoes of the past T20 champions were loudly calling.
West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first. Opening batters Mayers and King started positively, but their struggles for runs continued. Kyle Mayers, followed by King, Pooran and Powell were back in the pavilion by the end of the 7th over. West Indies at this point were 57 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. However, Shai Hope, recently recalled to the team as a replacement for Johnson Charles, and Shimron Hetmeyer who has struggled to find form in the previous matches, now batted with a purpose. Hope 45 runs and Hetmeyer 61 runs, brought respectability to the West Indies total score. Their innings ended at 178 for 8 wickets. Arshdeep Singh 3/38 and Kuldeep Yadav 2/26 were the best of the Indian bowlers.
When India batted, rising stars, Gill and Jaiswal who had failed miserably in previous matches, sparkled as they battered the West Indies bowlers. Total domination ensued as these two young batters, cut, pulled, and hooked The West Indies bowlers mercilessly. Their opening partnership of 165 runs was reported to be a record. Gill was out for 77 runs in the 16th over. Jaiswal was 84 not out.
India tied the series at 2 games each, winning this match by 9 wickets.
Tomorrow, the series final match is not one to be missed, especially after India’s performance in match 4. The odds are on India to win this series.
T20 number 3, West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first. The weather was cloudy and overcast with the possibility rain in the forecast. The Stars of India shone brightly under cloudy and rain drizzling sky.
The Stars, two of whom were recognized as the Yadavs, were ably supported by a new star on the rise, Tilak Varma.
First up, West Indies started their innings emphatically with Brandon King (42 runs), and Kyle Mayers (25 runs) moving the score to 55 runs for 1 wicket in the seventh over. However, in the passage of 3 overs Kuldeep Yadav exposed the West Indies top order batters to his brilliance. Johnson Charles, Brandon King, and Nicholas Pooran were dismissed. Victims of Kuldeep Yadav, leaving West Indies reeling at 105 for 3 wickets in the 15th over.
Captain Rovman Powell rallied his team with a quick fire 40 runs in 19 balls, to push the West Indies score to 159 for 5 wickets in the twentieth over. Although West Indies scored at an average of 8 runs per over, the failure of Nicholas Pooran to repeat his brilliance of the previous matches, once again exposed the weakness of the West Indies batting line up.
When India batted, the early failures of Jaiswal and Shubman Gill served as a spark for the for the Indian team, who were aware that a third loss to the West Indies in this 5-match series would have very serious implications for the two matches of the series scheduled for Florida.
Surya Yadav 83 runs and Tilak Varma went into overdrive. Quite literally, boundaries flowed like the persistent and visible rain drops. Maybe it was the raindrops that stimulated the rout.
When the end came, India had scored the required 164 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in the 18th over. West Indies lead the series by 2 games to one, and with the importance of the Florida matches now firmly in the headlights. In the unforgettable words of the Stylistics, Hurry, Hurry step right up and buy your tickets before the show begins.
T20 number 2, India won the toss and elected to bat first. Three Indian batters contributed a total 102 runs, while on the West Indies side, three bowlers collected 2 wickets each.
India’s innings total was 152 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. Two days previously I had decided that West Indies had little chance of winning this match number 2. I lost the that bet. West Indies in their innings chased and lost 8 wickets in scoring the required 153 runs to win.
What I found most remarkable is the similarity in the related match statistics for both teams. Wickets fell at almost identical runs total, 3 bowlers on each side claimed the lion’s share of the wickets. And 3 batters from each side were responsible for the runs scored. This match results could have been scripted. India’s team performance was below expectation, and West Indies team performance mirrored their opponents. Fans can only hope for improvements from team India. While supporters and fans of the West Indies visualize the illusions of a West Indies rebirth.
For this writer, two swallows do not signal the arrival of summer. West Indies 2 match series lead is impressive on paper, but, is it solid?
Two quick wickets in 3 balls with the West Indies score on 30 runs, stirred echoes of past West Indies humiliation in white ball cricket. In fact, the ink on the epitaph tablet is still wet from describing the destruction, decimation, and death of West Indies in the ODI version of white ball cricket, less than 4 weeks ago (ODI Qualifier series in Zimbabwe).
Team West Indies briefly resurrected, they performed with a shot of adrenaline and overpowered India in the second of 3 ODIs. West Indies won by 6 wickets. However, normality and reality came back to haunt the West Indies in their 200 runs destructive loss to India in the third match of this ODI series.
Resurgence? Two days later, and no doubt, enhanced with two double shots of adrenaline, team West Indies struggled to life again in the first of the 5 match T20 International Series against India. India being the same international team that the West Indies last defeated in a T20 match about 5 years ago. In this match, West Indies elected to bat first, and with Brandon King’s departure having scored 28 runs, West Indies were 30 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. The in-form Nicholas Pooran (41 runs) took charge and with the assistance of Captain Rovman Powell (48 runs), West Indies rallied to complete the 20 overs with 149 runs for the loss of 6 wickets.
When India batted, newcomer Tilak Varma earned his stripes with an innings high total of 39 runs. Varma was assisted by Sury Yadav (21runs), and captain Pandya (19 runs). The other Indian batters did not perform. Overall, Indian bowlers performed as expected. Not so the fielders. Rovman Powell had 3 dropped chances. Surprisingly, for the West Indies. Their bowlers and fielders were on top of their game. Two Indian batters were run out and the West Indies bowlers demonstrated accuracy.
West Indies won by the slightest of margins, 4 runs. Match 2 of the series is due on August 6. But where West Indies are concerned this betting man is keeping his wallet firmly out of sight.
