Kolkata: India registered its second consecutive victory against West Indies by 8 runs in the tri-match T20 series against West Indies on Friday in Eden Gardens at Kolkata to claim the series. It was also their 100th victory in T20I. However, Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell’s 100 run partnership was great but weren’t enough to defeat Men in Blue.
While Kieron Pollard’s men scored 178 for three wickets, Virat Kohli (52) and Rishabh Pant (52*), as well as a timely cameo from Venkatesh Iyer (33 off 18) in the middle, helped India post a solid 186 for five against West Indies.
India lost its first wicket in the second over when Sheldon Cottrell bowled Ishan Kishan and Kyle Mayers took a comfortable catch at point. Kishan fell for 2 (10). And Kohli joined Rohit Sharma in the middle.
By the end of the powerplay, India was on 49/1. With Sharma taking most over points and Kohli in an aggressive form.
Sharma departed for 19. The India skipper tried to slog but Brandon King completed an easy catch at point. India was 59/2 after 7.5 overs. While Suryakumar Yadav walked backed for 8, Pant opened his account with a boundary. India was 88/3 after 12 overs.
Kohli scored his 30th T20I fifty from 39 balls, with seven fours and a six. Kohli has done an excellent job of holding one end together. It got off to a fast start but then slowed down in the middle. However, he has played strong innings while the West Indies have taken frequent wickets at the other end.
West Indies were in too hurry to take the wicket of Kohli. The Indian batting great was clean bowled for 52 by Roston Chase.
Pant and Venkatesh Iyer put up a fantastic batting effort (33 off 18 balls). They both contributed unbeaten 76 runs for the fifth wicket off just 35 balls to help India reach 186 for five. Romario Shepherd’s final over yielded 7 runs and Iyer’s wicket. In the final over, Rishabh reached his third T20I fifty. On 52, he remained undefeated.
Innings Break!
Half-centuries from @imVkohli (52) and @RishabhPant17 (52*) and an 18 ball 33 from Venkatesh Iyer propels #TeamIndia to a total of 186/5 on the board.
Scorecard – https://t.co/vJtANowUFr #INDvWI @Paytm pic.twitter.com/G6aPAw3sur
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 18, 2022
Initially, the beginning of the West Indies’ innings started on a slow note. But Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell proved to be the asset for WI as they post 100-run partnership off just 58 balls.
Indian player Bhuvneshwar Kumar took the wicket of Pooran and WI was 159/3 after 18.3 overs.
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
Pollard played his 100th T20th match but came lately so was able to score 3 runs off 3 balls. West Indies finished 178/3 and with this defeat once again they got defeated by India and like ODI, this series too went in favor of Indian skipper’s men.
