West Indies vs India, 1st T20I: West Indies hold their nerves to snatch four-run win over India

After the ODI series loss, West Indies kickstarted the T20I series on a high note as they clinched the cliffhanger first T20I to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Opting to bat West Indies posted 149 for six on the board and then restricted India to 149 for five to win the game by four runs.

West Indies were off to a flier with the bat as Brandon King played some breathtaking strokes at the start. He smashed 28 runs off 19 balls, including four boundaries and one six. But the introduction of Yuzvendra Chahal in the fifth over meant that he removed King along with his opening partner Kyle Mayers in the same over. Johnson Charles fell for three to Kuldeep Yadav that saw the host being reduced to 58 for three. But after that, Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell played vital knocks for the team and helped them post a fighting total on the board. While Pooran made 41 runs off 34 balls with the help of two boundaries and two sixes, Powell ended with the knock of 48 runs off 32 balls that included three boundaries and three sixes. Based on their efforts, West Indies ended with a score of 149 runs on the board. For India, Yuzvendra Chahal (two for 24) and Arshdeep Singh (two for 30) were the pick of the bowlers.

The duo of Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan failed to replicate their heroics of the ODI series in the first T20I as they both perished early and put their team under pressure. Suryakumar Yadav (21: 21b, 2x4, 1x6) then along with debutant Tilak Varma (39: 22b, 2x4, 3x6) tried to steady the ship and played some blistering shots but they both ended up losing their wickets at crucial junctures. West Indies kept chipping in with the wickets at regular intervals and kept Hardik Pandya (19: 19b, 3x4) and Sanju Samson (12: 12b, 1x6) quiet as well. Axar Patel (13: 11b 1x6) tried his best to take India home but the West Indies bowlers were too good for him to wrap up the game comfortably and win the match by four runs.

WI WIN! Sheppie holds his nerve to deliver a 4 run victory.#WIHome #RallywithWI #KuhlT20 pic.twitter.com/zM4haytD9u

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) August 3, 2023

Match Summary
West Indies: 149-6 (20)
Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Kyle Mayers-4.1 ov), 2-30 (Brandon King-4.3 ov), 3-58 (Johnson Charles-7.3 ov), 4-96 (Nicholas Pooran, 14.1 ov), 5-134 (Shimron Hetmyer, 18.1 ov), 6-138 (Rovman Powell, 18.5 ov)

India: 145-9 (20)
Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Shubman Gill-2.2 ov), 2-28 (Ishan Kishan-4.5 ov), 3-67 (Suryakumar Yadav-9.2 ov), 4-77 (Tilak Varma-10.6 ov), 5-113 (Hardik Pandya-15.1 ov), 6-113 (Sanju Samson-15.3 ov), 7-129 (Axar Patel-18.1 ov), 8-140 (Kuldeep Yadav-19.1 ov), 9-143 (Arshdeep Singh-19.5 ov)

SCORECARD

Match Stats

Playing XI
West Indies: Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, Johnson Charles (wicket-keeper), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell (captain), Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy

India: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (captain), Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar

Match Details
Toss: West Indies, elected to field
Venue: Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad
Start time: 1400 hrs GMT
Match officials: Gregory Brathwaite, Patrick Gustard ( On-field Umpires); Nigel Duguid (TV Umpire); Leslie Reifer (Reserve Umpire); Richie Richardson (Match-referee)

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