India win
India won the ODI series 3-0. © BCCI
Suryakumar and Venkatesh add 48 runs in quick time and take India to a six-wicket win at the Eden Gardens! It's been an easy-paced win. After the spinner strangled West Indies in the middle overs, India made full use of dewy conditions and got off to a bumper start, with Rohit hitting 40 off 19. Virat Kohli endured another failure, so did Pant, but Venkatesh Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav ensured India sail home to a 1-0 lead in Kolkata.
Deepu pings: WI have won only one out of their last 12 T20Is away from home!
Pant walks back
He's holed out to short fine leg! Walks back for 8 off 8 and is there a twist? Venkatesh Iyer walks out and he'll glad that there's Suryakumar at the other end.
Kohli falls
Picks out long off and Kohli is absolutely livid with himself! Danced down the track to Fabian Allen and goes for a lofted drive - straight to Pollard though. Two wickets in four deliveries for WI. Pant and SKY two new batters in the middle.
Chase gets Kishan too
Picks out deep midwicket with perfection and Ishan Kishan's struggle against Chase ends in a wicket. Chase getting a reward for his excellent spell - 2 for 14!
Rohit departs
Oh, one shot too many. Ishan Kishan has played out a string of dots and Rohit tries to take on the spinner with a might heave. Takes a hard swipe and the ball travels high in the air instead going the distance. Odean Smith at the midwicket boundary line takes a well-judged catch. Rohit goes for 40 off 19, and here's Kohli.
It's raining sixes
...from Rohit Sharma's bat! He's hit three inside four overs and India's have matched WI's powerplay score of 44 already with two overs to spare. Ishan Kishan catches up with a couple of boundaries to bring the 50 opening stand with his captain. India are off to a flier.
Back for the chase!
WI finish with 157/7
A six and four from Pollard to prop up the West Indies. He finishes with an unbeaten 24. Harshal gets his second with another slower ball, Odean Smith miscues it to mid-off where Rohit Sharma takes a well-judged running-in catch. Except for that reprieve he gave Pooran early on, a dream debut with the ball for Bishnoi who applied the breaks in the middle-overs, finishing with figures of 2 for 17. So, 158 is what India need, with dew in picture. Be back in 15 for the chase.
India's behind on the over-rate and consequently, as per the new rules, they'll have one less fielder outside the ring for the last two overs.
Harshal gets Pooran
Slower ball, full and wide. Pooran has to fetch it but just couldn't get under it properly. Straightforward for Kohli at long-off.
FIFTY for Pooran
And there goes Chahal's final over. First-3 - 17 runs, final over - 17! Pooran kicks off with a six over cow corner, and then raises his fifty with a four next (38 balls). Pollard wraps it up with a four for himself. The big over that WI desperately needed.
Chahar gets rid of Akeal Hosein
...and the promotion doesn't click for WI. He did smoked one straight down the ground off Chahar earlier in the over when WI seemed stuck but the bowler gets back at him with a sharp bouncer. Hosein tries to pull and get a massive top-edge that balloonsup. Chahar calls it and takes it comfortably at square leg.
Bishnoi opens his account
Maiden T20I wicket for the youngster and Chase's struggle comes to an end. Plumb LBW but Chase takes a review. Three reds and WI lose wicket #3 and Review #1. Bishnoi gets a pat from Kohli.
India burn a review
Some confusion between Chahal, who almost signalled a review all by himself, and Rohit, who's not entirely sure if they need one. Chahal convinces his captain eventually, but the impact is outside stumps and that's that. Chase survives, and then opens his account finally after five deliveries. Pooran, meanwhile, pulls one long way into deep square leg stands to end that over. His third of the game so far.
Chahal gets Mayers instead
Finally something to celebrate for the spinner! Traps Mayers in front and it's given. He consults Pooran and asks for a review with barely a second left on the timer. And it's umpire's call on whether it would hit the stumps - so the on-field call stays and Mayers has to walk back. Second wicket for India!
Oh Bishnoi, what have you done!
Boundary-line catch for the debutant who takes an easy one but touched the ropes. Didn't realise where the boundary is.. this could have been Chahal's first wicket, but wasn't meant to be. The umpire teases with a OUT soft-signal, strangely, but there wasn't much doubt. So, it's a six then, and with that drama comes up the 50 for WI.
Bhuvi strikes!
Simple catch for SKY at backward point and India have a breakthrough already! Brandon King departs for 4. Here's Pooran.
National anthems are done. Time to play. King takes first strike, Bhuvi has the ball.
Teams:
West Indies (Playing XI): Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran(w), Rovman Powell, Kieron Pollard(c), Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Odean Smith, Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell
India (Playing XI): Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant(w), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal
TOSS: India opt to bowl. Bishnoi to debut, Holder misses out after being hit in the nets yesterday.
Welcome the debutant:
Toss coming up short, stay tuned!
Welcome!
The first of the three T20Is is here, and it's time to get the World Cup preparations underway. Kieron Pollard, the leader of two-time champions West Indies has demanded more consistency from his unit after the setback in the ODIs, and remains positive they can challenge India in the shortest format. Meanwhile, the Indian captain has insisted the time for experiments is over, the players have been given clarity of the roles expected of them and the series will be used to get them the required game-time before a mega-event. Which way do you see this trophy going