India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and West Indies skipper Carlos Brathwaite differed in their opinion about the quality of the ground at Central Broward Regional Park after the second T20 worldwide was called off due to wet outfield. The rain though lasted less than half-an-hour, but the wet outfield could not be rectified for the resumption of the match due to the lack of super soppers in the ground.
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When asked about the Indian team’s impressive performance in the second T20I after they slipped to a gut-wrenching one-run defeat in the first game, Dhoni praised the well-executed all-round show by the bowlers. The partnership of 126 was the third best opening stand for the West Indies in T20 cricket.
India thus failed to pull off the highest ever successful run chase which still stands at 236 for 6 which the West Indies pulled off against South Africa in January past year in Johannesburg.
Stroke-maker Virat Kohli threatened but only briefly, striking three fours in scoring 16 off eight balls before gloving a leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher off Bravo.
The match was delayed by 40 minutes due to satellite connectivity issues.
For West Indies, opener Evin Lewis, spelling Chris Gayle, made Gayle’s absence all but moot as Lewis slammed nine sixes and five fours on his way to an even 100 before he was caught out by Ravi Ashwin of a delivery from Ravindra Jadeja. But Charles continued from where he left yesterday, and smashed Shami for six and two fours in the next three balls. Charles’s innings ended when he failed to clear Ajinkya Rahane at the long on boundary. Ashwin foxed a charging Lendl Simmons (19) with a wide ball and had him stumped.
Andre Russell got out to Kumar before Shami dismantled Samuel Badree’s timber to uproot the Windies for 143. Earlier, a hapless Indian bowlers were mercilessly hammered for a record 21 sixes as the West Indies posted 245 for 6 in a sensational batting display by the Caribbeans.
“We had the same batting unit, barring one or two changes. The venue looks good”, he said. In fact it was in the first 12 overs where we gave away too many runs.
But they fell short as Dhoni was dismissed off the final ball, leaving the skipper to lament his failure to see his team to victory.
“Overall, when you play cricket, one is player’s passion and the other thing is host broadcaster, they want to make money, the fans want to come and watch live cricket”. It’s a win win situation for everyone. Explosive all-rounder Cralos Brathwaite was dismissed for 18 by leg spinner Mishra. 150 was a good score to achieve. I feel definitely the conditions … ultimately the umpires decide so they decide you play, we play. However, it was the first time an worldwide T20 match was conducted in Lauderhill, Florida at Central Broward Regional Park.
“We did take a bit of risk with Mishra coming in, replacing (Stuart) Binny, because we were one batsman short”. Mishra bowled exceedingly well, he was able to put pressure and he was well supported by Ashwin.
The West indies captain spotted some rough areas to the umpires and said it is very unsafe to resume the play. Their bowlers bowled well.
It was clear that the Indians came out with a bowling plan when captain Dhoni and vice-captain Kohli were in constant discussion with their bowlers. “You never know what happens in cricket, and we had full belief to defend the runs on the board”. “There are just two games I’ve played so I’m just looking forward to the rest of games”, he noted.
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What to expect: There is a high chance of thunderstorms in the forecast again, beginning around 8 AM and lasting, more or less, the entire day. “The ground itself is up to the global standard, the wicket was good, you can’t score 500 runs on a bad wicket, so a fantastic wicket. We had discussions if we can come here again”, Brathwaite said.
