Team India have bounced back strongly in the ongoing five-match T20I series against West Indies with back-to-back wins to take it to the deciding finale in Florida on Sunday, August 13. On a good batting pitch at the Lauderhill Stadium, Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill made a mockery of a 179-run target with a 165-run stand off just 93 deliveries as the Men in Blue won the match with three balls to spare. The series is now level 2-2.
Both Gill and Jaiswal were a little watchful as they took a couple of overs to get their eyes in before getting into their respective work. Team India needed a good start, which they haven't got in the series so far and both Jaiswal and Gill ensured that the Men in Blue got that. Jaiswal hit a couple of early boundaries before Gill started off with a six off Jason Holder. Gill then took charge as he raced off to 30 off 17 and then 43 off 24 as once they got through the powerplay, both got even more aggressive.
Either Gill or Jaiswal ensured that India got at least one boundary in an over while rotating the strike regularly as the Men in Blue reached 100 in the 10th over. Gill brought up his fifty in just 30 deliveries while Jaiswal got to his maiden half-century in 33 balls as the West Indies bowlers looked hapless.
They eased into a 150-run partnership before they equalled the 165-run stand between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul - the highest opening partnership for India in T20Is. However, Gill got out just then before Jaiswal completed the formalities by staying unbeaten on 84 off 51 deliveries as the Indian team achieved their second successive win.
Earlier Shimron Hetmyer's quickfire 61 off just 39 balls helped West Indies get to a good score of 178 as they recovered from 57/4. Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav rocked the hosts early with regular wickets before ODI skipper Shai Hope rescued the innings with a well-compiled knock of 45 off 29. The West Indies underwent another mini-collapse before Hetmyer provided the finish that they needed. But eventually the score wasn't enough as Jaiswal and Gill's partnership proved to be too lethal.
