Dwayne Bravo's calmness outshines KL Rahul's brilliance

Dwayne Bravo's calmness under pressure overshadowed KL Rahul's brilliance as West Indies clinched a thrilling one-run win in the first of two Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against India at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida on Saturday (August 27).

Evin Lewis, who added 126 with opening partner Johnson Charles, scored a superb 100 off only 49 deliveries to register the fourth-fastest hundred as he led the West Indies to what many thought was an ungettable total of 245. Charles, though had to move down in the list for the fastest T20I hundreds as KL Rahul went on to bring up a century off 46 deliveries for the joint second-fastest ton and brought down the equation to eight off the final over.

What followed was a terrific bowling effort by Bravo, who conceded only six runs in the final over of the game and dismissed MS Dhoni off the last delivery to help the Caribbean team take a 1-0 lead.

The first impression one got looking at Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane negotiating the first few deliveries was that there would be less muscle, less belligerence. But finesse can be effective as well, which Rohit showcased as he easily lofted a few drives over the infield to set the tone in the chase. The opening partnership, however, was cut short when Rahane fell to Andre Russell in the third over. At first glance, the ramp shot played by Rahane appeared to be a clever and well-played one, but Bravo, as athletic as ever, covered much ground, dived and made it look much easier than it actually was.

Virat Kohli did not take long to get going as he managed two fours off Samuel Badree in the fourth over. The next over silenced the huge Indian contingent as Bravo cajoled the Test skipper into gloving an attempted pull-shot through to the keeper. Undoubtedly, the magical Kohli was India's best bet to win the game. His departure made an already difficult task even more daunting.

Rahul came in at the fall of Kohli's wicket and made his presence felt immediately, striking India's first six off the second ball he received, having dispatched his first for a four, to take 16 off Sunil Narine's first over. The spinner would hardly have been used to such harsh treatment, but this was a surface devoid of turn and consistent in bounce, making things much easier for the batsman than the unfortunate bowler. Rohit, meanwhile, was in his elements, as he dealt in regular boundaries to bring up a 22-ball fifty, the fourth fastest by an Indian player in T20Is.

The Rohit-Rahul association, which yielded 89 runs, came to an abrupt end when Rohit (62 off 28) found Charles at deep mid-wicket giving Pollard his only wicket of the game. India were now 137 for 3 and Dhoni strode to the wicket.

Dhoni, who walked in next, hit his stride quickly and joined Rahul in a stirring partnership that had the crowd in raucous celebration. Each boundary elevated the noise level as pleadings of "we want a six" were more often than not satisfied. By the time the 18th was completed, 24 was needed. This number was reduced by 16 by the end of the 19th, which also saw Rahul reach his hundred by sending Russell over backward point for six. Coming off 46 deliveries it meant he even outshone Lewis by making the joint second-fastest century in T20Is.

Eight were required from the last over and Marlon Samuels decided to make it harder for his team by dropping Dhoni off the first delivery. But, as things turned out, it was Bravo's magic that came to the fore, and with two needed off the last ball, Samuels redeemed himself by taking the catch offered by Dhoni at short third-man.

Earlier, Chris Gayle's absence due to an injury meant that Lewis got a chance, and he made sure not to waste it. Before he got going, it was Charles, playing in his 30th T20I, who began like a rocket. The day's second, third and sixth legal deliveries, bowled by Mohammad Shami was struck for six, four and four respectively. Sent in to bat by MS Dhoni, West Indies raced away to 24 in the first two overs, with Charles scoring 21 off nine deliveries. Lewis soon joined the fun, but Charles remained the main protagonist, his foot planted firmly on the accelerator.

At the end of the powerplay, West Indies reached 78 for no wicket, with Charles cruising on 51 after striking Ravichandran Ashwin for two sixes in his first over. But if India thought the end of the power-play overs would offer any respite, they were made to think again. Lewis had now fully hit his stride and greeted Ravindra Jadeja's two first deliveries with mighty hits for six to continue the onslaught.

But just when it appeared that neither batsman would get out and the West Indies would make a million, Charles departed, bowled by Shami off an inside edge as he tried to play a low full-toss on off-stump through the leg side. It seemed a wasted opportunity with an easy century in the offing. Still, his 79 from 33 deliveries was well made.

At the half-way mark, West Indies were 132 for 1, with Lewis bringing up his 50 off 25 balls. The batsman took his hitting to the next level, when he carted five sixes off Stuart Binny in the 11th over, which yielded 32. A short while later, the Trinidadian, playing only his second T20I, reached his maiden century with a single off Jadeja before falling to the left-arm spinner.

Andre Russell, who walked at No. 3, added to India's woes but couldn't do too much damage, falling for a 12-ball 22. West Indies rearranged the batting order, trying to capitalise on the belligerent start, and sent Pollard in next. The hard-hitting all-rounder fell in the final over for a 15-ball-22, bowled by Bumrah. Carlos Brathwaite was run out for 14 and Simmons was bowled by Bumrah without scoring as West Indies ended up with 15-20 runs less than what they would have hoped for, but it proved to be sufficient in the end.

For the fans in Florida, they couldn't have asked for a more thrilling game, which saw a total of 489 runs being scored. West Indies made was thought to be a highly foreboding total. That India, playing their maiden international game in the USA, got that close was down to the remarkable batting from Rohit, Dhoni, and especially KL Rahul. Bravo though made all the difference in the end.

Brief scores: West Indies 245/6 in 20 overs (Evin Lewis 100, Johnson Charles 79; Ravindra Jadeja 2-39, Jasprit Bumrah 2-47) beat India 244/4 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 110*, Rohit Sharma 62, MS Dhoni 43*; Dwayne Bravo 2-37) by 1 run.