Page 56 - The Indian EYE 081823

The Indian Eye
SPORTS AUGUST 18, 2023 56

INDIA IN THE WEST INDIES

Men in Blue falter at

final hurdle as hosts win the

T20I series in Florida

Expert says that the India’s tour of West Indies was taken lightly, as it witnessed a lot of

experimentation and chances given to youngsters

OUR BUREAU
Lauderhill City (Florida)
ndia’s multi-format tour of the
Caribbean and the USA ended
Iwith a T20I series defeat to West
Indies, with their lack of lower-order
batting muscle and a lacklustre bowl-
ing show playing a part in Sunday’s
result in Florida. But let that not
take any credit away from Nicholas
Pooran and Brandon King, the archi-
tects of a superbly constructed chase.
The pair put on 107 off 72 balls
for the second wicket and didn’t al-
low India a foot in the door. What
seemed like it might be a challeng-
ing chase at the outset turned into a
stroll, West Indies eventually getting
home with 12 balls to spare to record
their second straight T20I series win
and their first against India since
2017.
West Indies lost Kyle Mayers in
the second over to Arshdeep Singh,
but it only spurred them to go even
harder in drizzly conditions that
forced the teams to have one eye on
the DLS sheet.
Pooran continued to enjoy a Surya Kumar Yadav celebrates during the 5th T20I match against West Indies at Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium
charmed life when a small spike on of Lauderhill city in Florida on Sunday (ANI)
Snickometer - the thinnest of edges
off the glove attempting a slog sweep
- helped overturn an lbw decision off seemed to counter situations such as India win 4th game easily run partnership to keep the WI bowl-
Kuldeep Yadav in the fifth over. But this. The only bowler to rein in the ers at bay.
around all this, there was a display batters somewhat was Kuldeep Ya- ndia sealed off a comfortable While chasing a target of 179,
of sensational hitting - clean and un- dav, who varied his pace and lengths 9-wicket victory for the visitors to Gill and Jaiswal provided India with
inhibited - to throw India’s bowlers nicely. Ilevel the five-match T20I series the ideal start.
completely off the rails. In the previous two games, against West Indies on 2-2 at the Cen- Jaiswal managed to put past his
India’s decision to play six bowl- Pooran was out trying to take tral Broward Regional Park Stadium nightmarish debut where he got out
ers (Hardik included), which brings Kuldeep on. Today, Pooran was in- Turf Ground on Saturday. for 1(2). On the other hand, Gill who
with it the inherent risk of their bat- tent on learning from that and milked Shubman Gill and Yashasvi has struggled throughout the white
ting tapering off quickly down the singles off Kuldeep, whose first three Jaiswal impressed with the bat in the ball series once again had a slow start
order, was specifically designed it overs went for just 16. fourth T20I as they stitched up a 165- Continued on next page... >>

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