West Indies beat India by four runs in a thrilling match

Taroba (Best Hindu News): West Indies beat India by four runs in the first T20 match on Thursday thanks to a courageous performance by the bowlers led by Jason Holder (19/2) after a captaincy innings by Rovman Powell (32 balls, 48 ​​runs). West Indies set a target of 150 runs in front of India, in response to which the Indian team could score only 145 runs after losing nine wickets. Even though no batsman could score a half-century for the Windies, the innings of Powell and Nicholas Pooran (34 balls, 41 runs) took the hosts to a challenging score.

India were cruising towards the target by scoring 113 runs in 15 overs, but the Caribbean team took five wickets in the last five overs to win by giving just 32 runs. Chasing the target, the Indian team faced West Indies’ lone spinner Akil Hossain in the powerplay. Aqeel conceded just three runs in the first over and showed the way to the pavilion to Shubman Gill (three) in the third over. Ishan Kishan (six) was also dismissed for a small score, although Tilak Verma, playing his first match, opened his account with two sixes and brought India to 45 runs in the powerplay.

Tilak had added 39 runs for the third wicket with Suryakumar Yadav when both the batsmen returned to the pavilion within 10 balls. Suryakumar scored 21 off 21 balls, while Tilak scored 39 off 22 balls with two fours and three sixes.

Tilak’s innings tilted the match in India’s favour, although the slow pitch at the Brian Lara Stadium made it increasingly difficult to score runs. When India needed 37 runs off 30 balls, Jason Holder took two wickets while bowling the 16th over maiden. Hardik Pandya was dismissed after scoring 19 runs off 19 balls, while Samson was run out on 12 runs.

When India needed 21 runs from 12 balls, the defeat of the hosts was almost certain with the wicket of Akshar Patel (13). Arshdeep Singh hit two fours in the 19th over but Romario Shepherd conceded just five runs in the last over to seal West Indies’ victory.