In reply, Lokesh Rahul’s joint second fastest T-20 century went in vain as India, after scoring 238 runs in 19 overs, failed to make 8 runs in the last.
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With the century, the Karnataka batsman has now become the third Indian to score a century in all three formats of the game.
The way the West Indians were hammering the Indian bowlers, it seemed that Dhoni’s decision to insert the opposition in backfired but his boys were up to the task and they were on the verge of turning the match on its head with a vintage batting performance only to fall short by just one run.
“The last ball, the thinking was right but the execution was wrong”, said Dhoni. This is Ashim Sunam here, and I will provide you with all the highs and lows from the India vs West Indies 2nd T20 clash.
Most of the India bowlers were thrashed all around the park by the West Indies batsmen, and Stuart Binny had an off day with the ball, with poor bowling figures.
Rookie opener Evin Lewis, playing in his only second T20 global, hit 100 (49 balls; 5×4, 9×6) and shared 126 runs for the first wicket from a mere 9.3 overs with Johnson Charles (79 of 33 balls; 6×4, 7×6) led the mauling of Indian bowlers. Johnson Charles however continued his excellent form, finishing with 25-ball 43, which was the highest score for his side.
Despite, losing Charles, West Indies ended the powerplay at 54 for two.
Shami, who was recalled for his second spell, finally managed to bring the onslaught to a halt by removing Charles with a full length delivery that rocked his off-stump.
He smashed six boundaries and seven sixes in his prolific knock which was cut short by Mohammed Shami in the 10th over of the game. Whenever there was a partnership, we kept the asking rate at just 12. Rohit was eventually out for 62 off 28 balls with four boundaries and four sixes.
Brathwaite said when asked of the ground was unsafe, according to the Cricinfo website: “Looking from the pavilion, the run-ups on that side and just beside the sponsor’s (painted ad on field) plus probably mid-on and then there was a little patch on the (west) side looking from the pavilion again”.
Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Fletcher and Carlos Brathwaite can strike the ball cleanly without breaking a sweat.
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Two-time ICC World Twenty20 champions West Indies, who were six points behind second-placed India’s 128 points before the series, are now just one point adrift at 125 with India on 126.
