2nd T20I: Rohit, Krunal shine as India beat West Indies by 22 runs via DLS method
Highlights, India vs West Indies, 2nd T20I: Hello and welcome to our coverage of India vs West Indies 2nd T20I from Florida. The Men in Blue put on an impressive show with the ball, restricting the hosts to 95/9 with debutant Navdeep Saini starring with a three-for. But the same could not be said much about the batting as India managed to escape with a narrow four-wicket win. Despite the win, India have plenty of work to do as Windies won't let the visitors have it so easy as they are expected to come out with all guns blazing. (MATCH SCORECARD)
India beat West Indies by 22 runs via DLS method
* The Men in Blue were brilliant with the ball in the Powerplay. Washington Sundar was excellent in his spell of three overs along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Khaleel Ahmed and Navdeep Saini proved to be expensive today but it's not as if they bowled too badly. With the series already in the bag, we might see India trying out the other players in their squad in the final T20I. Stick around for the presentation...
* In reply, the hosts once again faltered with the bat at the start. After losing two wickets cheaply, Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell put together a 76-run stand to do the recovery job. Pooran, though, was very slow in his knock and as a result, the asking rate kept on mounting. The 14th over bowled by Krunal where he nipped out both the set batsmen threw the home team in a precarious situation and then the rain came to deny the likes of Kieron Pollard and Shimron Hetmyer to have a shot at the target.
* Right then, INDIA WIN BY 22 RUNS (DLS method) to take an unassailable lead in the 3-match series. It was a much better batting performance by India although the middle order still needs to find a way to score runs. Powered by the contributions from the top three and a late cameo by Krunal Pandya. India posted a daunting target in front of West Indies on a sluggish surface.
* Update 13.59 local - It has started to rain now! It looks doubtful that we will have any more play in this match. Let's wait and hope for the best.
* IT'S RAINING! The covers are coming on and the players are leaving the field. The DLS par score at this stage is 120 and West Indies are well behind.
23.02 IST: Ravindra Jadeja to Kieron Pollard, FOUR! Powered away! Flatter one, on middle, Pollard lines up the delivery and hammers it over the bowler's head for a boundary at long on.
22.59 IST: Krunal Pandya to Shimron Hetmyer, FOUR! Slapped away! Short in length and wide outside off, enough room there for Hetmyer to whack it through backward point for a boundary. Outstanding over by Krunal, 6 runs and 2 wickets from it.
22.57 IST: Krunal Pandya to Rovman Powell, OUT! That's hitting the stumps and Krunal Pandya has turned this chase completely in India's favour. Both the set batsmen are back in the hut leaving West Indies in a precarious situation.
22.54 IST: Krunal Pandya to Nicholas Pooran, OUT c Manish Pandey b Krunal Pandya. West Indies have lost their third wicket.
22.46 IST: Navdeep Saini to Rovman Powell, Second T20I fifty for Rovman Powell and it has come in good time! WI 77/2 in 12.2 overs
22.45 IST: Krunal Pandya to Rovman Powell, SIX! This one has gone all the way to spoil a good over. Slightly short and on off, Powell picks it early, goes back deep inside the crease and muscles it over mid-wicket.
22.42 IST: Krunal Pandya to Rovman Powell, Wide! Well, that's a bit harsh. A full toss outside off, just inside the tramline, the batsman leaves and Pant catches it on the full. Rishabh is not happy with the call from the umpire, rightly so.
22.35 IST: Krunal Pandya to Rovman Powell, Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. One run added to the total. 62/2 at the halfway mark, 106 needed more. WI 62/2 in 10 overs
22.30 IST: Washington Sundar to Rovman Powell, SIX! Dismissed! Loopy delivery, landing full on middle, Powell sits down on one knee and slog sweeps it massively over backward square leg for a biggie. 50 comes up for West Indies.
22.27 IST: Navdeep Saini to Rovman Powell, FOUR! Streaky again! No justice for bowlers. Saini darts in a length ball on off, Powell stays back and tries to defend late but it takes the outside edge and flies past the keeper for a boundary.
22.26 IST: Navdeep Saini to Rovman Powell, EDGY FOUR! Not where Powell intended to hit by any stretch of the imagination. The extra pace of Saini brought that inside edge but he's still unlucky to concede a boundary. He spears in a length ball on middle, Powell tries to whip it over mid-wicket but it takes the inside edge, misses the stumps and races away to the fine leg fence.
22.24 IST: Khaleel Ahmed to Rovman Powell, FOUR! Boom! Khaleel overpitches again, around off, Powell latches onto it and smacks it over wide mid off for a boundary. 11 from the over and West Indies will hope that this breaks the shackles.
22.20 IST: Khaleel Ahmed to Rovman Powell, SIX! Rovman Powell is a real delight to watch when in full throttle.
22.18 IST: Navdeep Saini to Nicholas Pooran, FOUR! Shades of Yuvraj Singh on that shot! A touch short in length around leg, Pooran moves back, lifts his front leg in the air and then spanks it through backward square leg. Plenty of bottom hand and it races away to the fence.
22.10 IST: Khaleel Ahmed to Powell, FOUR! Smashed down the ground! Khaleel delivers it full and around off, slower in pace, Powell presents the full face of his bat and smashes it straight back past his partner for a boundary at long off. WI 14/2 in 4.2 overs
* Rovman Powell is promoted up the order.
22.05 IST: Washington Sundar to Sunil Narine, OUT! Bowled em! Narine is out of here and India are off to a solid start! The pressure was mounting on Narine after so many dots and that has brought his downfall. Sundar sends it flatter through the air and lands it on middle, it skids on after pitching as Narine gives the charge. He swings his bat but fails to meet the ball and it goes through to rattle the stumps. The move to open with Narine has not worked as he departs for a 12-ball 4. WI 8/2 in 3 overs
21.58 IST: Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Evin Lewis, OUT! That's a clean catch by Kumar and Lewis departs cheaply once again. A delivery landing on a length around off, it stops a bit onto the batsman who tries to defend from the crease. But it takes the upper half of his bat and loops back towards the bowler. Kumar dives across to his right to claim the catch. WI 2/1 in 1.2 overs
21.54 IST: Washington Sundar to Sunil Narine, Wide! Slightly quicker through the air this time, it's short and wide outside off, Narine swishes and misses.
* Time for the run chase! Evin Lewis and Sunil Narine are the openers for West Indies. India, like yesterday, are starting with the spin of Washington Sundar. All set, here we go...
* West Indies have a stiff target in front of them. They have seen how India approached their innings today and should be trying to ape it. The hosts need to play out the initial phase safely but not overcautiously as stroke-making won't be easy once the ball gets old. Can the Windies chase this down to level the series? Do join us in a short while to find out.
* The final over has really spoiled all the good work done by the West Indian bowlers before the 20th over!
21.40 IST: Keemo Paul to Ravindra Jadeja, Paul finally nails his yorker and serves it outside off, Jadeja squeezes it out towards covers and crosses. 20 from the over, a big finish for India as they end on 167/5!
21.38 IST: Keemo Paul to Ravindra Jadeja, SIX! Jadeja joins the party! Keemo is leaking runs here. Another yorker gone wrong and Jadeja needs no second invitation there. He muscles a full toss down to cow corner and it lands flush on the ropes.
21.37 IST: Keemo Paul to Krunal Pandya, SIX! And again! Paul delivers a length this time, around off and angling in, Krunal latches onto it and launches it over long off for back-to-back maximums. Momentum shifting!
21.36 IST: Keemo Paul to Krunal Pandya, SIX! This one has gone the distance! Taken a while but it has come at the right time for the Indian team. Paul fails to land his yorker and Pandya makes full use of a full toss in his half. He swings and swings it hard over square leg for a maximum.
21.32 IST: Sheldon Cottrell to Manish Pandey, OUT! Smart bowling by Sheldon Cottrell. He alters his length and bangs in a short ball around middle and leg. Manish Pandey stays leg side of the delivery and attempts to pull it over the leg side. But there is good bounce on this one and it takes the top edge. The keeper jumps to pouch the catch and once again Pandey fails to impress.
21.28 IST: Keemo Paul to Krunal Pandya, A low full toss on off, Pandya tries working it around but gets a leading edge. It rolls through extra cover and they take a couple of runs.
21.26 IST: Sheldon Cottrell to Krunal Pandya, A length ball on middle and off, Pandya tries to work it on the leg side but misses. It goes off his pads to the leg side and they cross. Given as a run. 9 runs in the last two overs along with two wickets. West Indies are applying brakes on India.
21.22 IST: Sheldon Cottrell to Virat Kohli, OUT! Cottrell is having a great weekend. Dismissed Virat on Saturday and Sunday, now that's a big player to dismiss twice in two days. A nicely served fuller length ball on middle, a hint of movement as it holds off the surface a bit, Kohli wants to play his trademark flick shot but the ball sneaks through his blade and uproots the middle stump. Here comes the salute from Sheldon. A timely breakthrough for the Windies, this will cost India at least 25-30 runs.
21.20 IST: Oshane Thomas to Virat Kohli, Short and on off, Kohli pulls it from the middle of the bat to deep mid-wicket for one. Oshane has finished his spell, 4-0-27-2 from him this evening.
* Manish Pandey is the new batsman.
21.16 IST: Oshane Thomas to Rishabh Pant, OUT! Pant throws away his wicket early once again! A golden duck on Saturday followed by a 5-ball 4 on Sunday. Thomas has his second wicket. He delivers it short and outside off, Rishabh stands back to play the upper cut but fails to pack his shot with enough power.
21.13 IST: Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, FOUR! Wow, those wrists of steel! Kohli shimmies down the track to a full delivery and flicks it with authority to the deep mid-wicket fence. He generates a lot of power through his bottom hand.
* Sunil Narine is back on.
* Rishabh Pant walks in next. He bagged a golden duck in the last match and would be itching to prove himself here in Miami.
21.08 IST: Oshane Thomas to Rohit Sharma, OUT! Massive breakthrough for West Indies! The dangerous Rohit Sharma has been sent packing.
21.07 IST: Oshane Thomas to Rohit Sharma, Back of a length ball angling in around off, Sharma tries forcing it across the line but it takes the inner half of his bat and runs in front of square leg for a single.
21.02 IST: Carlos Brathwaite to Rohit Sharma, FOUR! Goes over the off side this time. Not in full control though. A length ball on off, Rohit tries to go straight but ends up slicing it off the outside edge over point for a boundary.
21.01 IST: Carlos Brathwaite to Rohit Sharma, SIX! Rohit has the license now to go big! Brathwaite serves it right into the slot, full and angling in around off, Sharma swings his bat across the line and dumps it over mid-wicket for a biggie.
* Carlos Brathwaite is back on.
20.58 IST: Khary Pierre to Virat Kohli, SIX! That's a maximum for Kohli! He jumps down to the pitch of the delivery and chooses the safest part of the ground, i.e. over the bowler's head. Wonderful timing and it sails over the sightscreen.
20.52 IST: Sunil Narine to Rohit Sharma, SIX!
20.48 IST: Sunil Narine to Rohit Sharma, Floats it on middle and leg, Rohit nudges it to long on for a single.
20.45 IST: Keemo Paul to Shikhar Dhawan, OUT! Bowled! West Indies finally break the opening partnership. Full and straight on off and middle, Dhawan looks to play the uppish flick across the line but misses it completely. Paul does not miss and disturbs the timber.
20.39 IST Carlos Brathwaite to Rohit Sharma, Smart change of pace. Brathwaite bowls a good length ball but takes the pace off the ball. Rohit is early in his pull, the ball comes late and hits him on his ribs. 9 runs off the skipper's first.
20.38 IST: Carlos Brathwaite to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Very good batting! Good length ball outside off, Dhawan plays it late through square on the off side and fetches himself a boundary.
* Skipper, Carlos Brathwaite has introduced himself into the attack.
20.27 IST: Keemo Paul to Rohit Sharma, SIX! First biggie of the day! Paul bowls a rank full toss on middle and leg, Rohit says thank you very much and smashes it over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum.
20.24 IST: Sunil Narine to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Beats the diving mid on fielder! Floated on middle, Dhawan comes down the track and hits it with venom wide of mid on.
20.19 IST: Sheldon Cottrell to Rohit Sharma, FOUR! Stylish! Fuller on off, Rohit just lofts it over mid off for an easy boundary. His second in this over.
20.18 IST: Sheldon Cottrell to Rohit Sharma, FOUR! Beautiful! Rohit makes batting looks so easy! Fuller on off, Rohit lofts his drive over covers for a boundary. Effortless from Ro-Hit!
20.16 IST: Oshane Thomas to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Second boundary of the over and Dhawan gets his first. Back of a length ball on off, Shikhar uses the bounce and helps it over the third man region for a boundary.
20.14 IST: Oshane Thomas to Rohit Sharma, FOUR! Lovely wrist work. On the pads, Rohit just picks it up and flicks it over mid-wicket for an effortless boundary.
20.10 IST: Sheldon Cottrell to Rohit Sharma, WIDE! Cottrell continues to struggle with his line here and bowls one more down the leg side. Rohit misses his flick. Third wide of the over.
20.08 IST: Sheldon Cottrell to Rohit Sharma, WIDE! False start for Cottrell. He starts with bowling one down the leg side. Rohit looks to flick but misses. Wided by the umpire.
20.06 IST: Oshane Thomas to Shikhar Dhawan, NOT OUT! Nothing on the Ultra Edge and West Indies lose their sole review. Short ball around off, Dhawan looks to play the upper cut but misses. Pooran takes it and starts celebrating but nothing from the umpire. Brathwaite takes the review straightaway. Replays roll in and Ultra Edge shows no spike on it.
* Review for caught behind. Dhawan is the man in question. The West Indies players are confident that they have their man. Let's see what the replays have to say.
20.03 IST: Oshane Thomas to Rohit Sharma, WIDE! Thomas struggles with the line and sprays this down the leg side. Wided by the umpire.
20.00 IST: Oshane Thomas to Rohit Sharma, FOUR! India are off with a bang! Thomas bowls a real loosner first up. It is on the body, Rohit flicks it fine down the leg side for a boundary.
* We are all set to begin! The West Indies skipper are in a huddle with their skipper having a word with them before they take their respective positions. Indian openers, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma stride out to the middle to open the innings.
19.36 IST: Playing XI of both teams are out
West Indies (Playing XI): Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran(w), Kieron Pollard, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Carlos Brathwaite(c), Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Manish Pandey, Krunal Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Navdeep Saini, K Khaleel Ahmed
19.31 IST: India win toss, opt to bat against West Indies in Florida
19.06 IST: Senior bowler Bhuvneshwar had a chit chat session with young paceman Navdeep Saini after an impressive debut.
Hello and welcome to out live blog of the India vs West Indies 2nd T20I. The TOSS will take place at 7.30 PM and the match will commence from 8.00 PM IST. Stay tuned for live updates.
Brief Preview: The Virat Kohli-led Team India will aim to clinch the three-match T20I rubber series against the West Indies when they face-off in the second contest at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground on Sunday. In the series opener on Saturday, India defeated the West Indies by four wickets to take a 1-0 lead. The Indian bowlers came all gun blazing to restrict their opposition at a paltry 95 runs after Kohli decided to bowl first. (Read Full Preview Here)
