Page 48 - The Indian EYE 022522

SpORTS FEBRUARY 25, 2022 | The Indian Eye 48

West IndIes In IndIa

After 3-0 clean sweep in ODIs, the

Men in Blue go for the kill in T20s

Snippets of reports from the pitch and off the field as an exciting series unfolds

OUR BUREAU
Ahmedabad/Kolkata
avi Bishnoi’s two-wicket haul
was backed up by quality
Rknocks by Rohit Sharma (40)
and Suryakumar Yadav (34*) as India
defeated West Indies by six wickets
in the first T20I of the three-match
series here at the Eden Gardens on
Wednesday.
With this win, India has gained a
1-0 lead in the three-match series and
the second T20I will now be played
on Friday at the same venue. Chasing
158, India got off to a quickfire start
as openers Rohit Sharma and Ishan
Kishan put on 58 runs inside the first
six overs. The 64-run opening stand
finally came to an end in the eighth
over as Roston Chase got the better
of Rohit (40). Chase got his second
wicket in the 12th over as he dis-
missed Kishan (35) and India was
reduced to 93/2, still needing 65 runs
for the win. Indian team huddles during a training session ahead of the first Twenty20 international cricket match between India and
In the next over, India was giv- West Indies at the Eden Gardens, in Kolkata on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
en a body blow as Fabien Allen had
Virat Kohli (17) caught at the hands
of skipper Kieron Pollard at long- Ravi Bishnoi got his maiden it would have been competitive. Af- dia was reduced to 93/2, still needing
off and this meant there were two T20I wicket in the 11th over of the ter six overs they were in front, but 65 runs for the win.
new batters at the crease -- Rishabh innings as he had Roston Chase (4) I thought the bowlers and fielders In the next over, India was giv-
Pant and Suryakumar Yadav. Pant adjudged leg-before wicket. In the did really well to pull things back. en a body blow as Fabien Allen had
(8) failed with the bat as he was dis- very same over, Bishnoi dismissed Different times calls for different Virat Kohli (17) caught at the hands
missed by Sheldon Cottrell and India Rovman Powell (2) and the visi- things, they have quality bowlers and of skipper Kieron Pollard at long-
was reduced to 114/4 in the 15th over. tors were reduced to 74/4. Nicholas we have to play it as we see it,” said off and this meant there were two
In the end, Suryakumar (34*) Pooran kept on holding one end up Pollard after the game. new batters at the crease -- Rishabh
and Venkatesh Iyer (24*) ensured and the visitors were looking for a big “The guys are working hard to Pant and Suryakumar Yadav. Pant
that India register a six-wicket win finish in the final overs. get things right and again it’s just a (8) failed with the bat as he was dis-
with seven balls to spare. Earlier, matter of setting it up properly. The missed by Sheldon Cottrell and India
Nicholas Pooran starred with the bat Wanted BoWleRs to haVe ball was wet and the bowlers were was reduced to 114/4 in the 15th over.
as he played a knock of 61 runs to bowling high full tosses and I wanted
help West Indies post 157/7. Sent into FaIR shaRe to execUte, saYs them to have a fair share to execute. haVe tIcKed lot oF Boxes
bat, West Indies got off to a bad start PollaRd Having said that, it was a very, very
as the visitors lost Brandon King (4) good game of cricket,” he added. In thIs seRIes, saYs RohIt
on the fifth ball of the innings. Kyle West Indies skipper Kieron Chasing 158, India got off to a quick- shaRMa
Mayers and Nicholas Pooran then Pollard expressed disappointment fire start as openers Rohit Sharma India skipper Rohit Sharma ex-
scored briskly and after the end of after his side got thrashed by India and Ishan Kishan put on 58 runs pressed happiness after his side de-
powerplay overs, West Indies’ score in the first T20I of the three-match inside the first six overs. The 64-run feated West Indies by 96 runs in the
read 44/1. The 47-run stand for the series here at the Eden Gardens on opening stand finally came to an end third and final ODI here at the Na-
second wicket was cut short by Yuz- Wednesday. in the eighth over as Roston Chase rendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
vendra Chahal as he had Mayers (31) “Between overs 6-15 we only got the better of Rohit (40). Chase on Friday.
adjudged leg-before wicket in the scored 46 in 9 overs and if we had got his second wicket in the 12th over
seventh over. 18-20 more runs during that phase as he dismissed Kishan (35) and In- Continued at next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE.com