PROVIDENCE, Guyana – Kieron Pollard stroked his first Twenty20 International half-century in seven years, but reigning World champions West Indies were swept by India in the MyTeam11 T20I Series, co-sponsored by Skoda and Fena, when they lost the final match by seven wickets here.
Catch up with the quick match highlights below.
Pollard led the way with 58 from 45 balls that included one four and six sixes, as the Windies, sent in to bat following a delayed start of an hour and 10 minutes, recovered to post 146 for six from their allocation of 20 overs at the Guyana National Stadium.
Compatriots Oshane Thomas and left-arm spinner Fabian Allen grabbed the wickets of openers Shikhar Dhawan and K.L. Rahul cheaply inside the Power Play overs to leave the Indians 27 for two in the fifth over in reply.
But the West Indies attack lacked the cutting edge and a third-wicket stand of 106 between Rishabh Pant, whose unbeaten 63 from 40 balls was the top score, and Virat Kohli, 59 from 45 balls, put the visitors firmly on course for victory.
West Indies captain, Carlos Brathwaite saw Pant formalise the result with 11 balls remaining with a lofted straight drive for the last of his four sixes and four fours which comprised his boundary total.
The defeat for the hosts followed a four-wicket loss in last Saturday’s opening contest at the Broward County Stadium, where they also lost the second match by 22 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern Method.
Hoping to avoid the clean sweep, West Indies ran into early trouble, when they lost the left-handed trio of Sunil Narine, Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer – all to newcomer Deepak Chahar – in the Power Play overs and were wobbling on 14 for three.
Nicholas Pooran got the innings moving with a stand of 66 for the fourth wicket with Pollard before he was caught behind for 17, driving loosely at a delivery from Navdeep Saini in the 14th over.
Pollard reached his 50 with a six over mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya and was just beginning to get into the swing of things, when Saini bowled him in the 16th over.
Rovman Powell was the main aggressor in the closing stages with 32 off 20 balls that included one four and two sixes to carry the #MenInMaroon to a respectable total.
In the chase, Thomas gave West Indies and early breakthrough, when he had Dhawan caught at fine leg for three in the second over and Allen followed up with the scalp of Rahul stumped for 20 in the fifth over.
The home team failed to make further inroads into the Indian batting, as Kohil and Pant mixed enterprising stroke-play with good running between the wickets to give the visitors the impetus for victory.
The two teams will now prepare for the first of three MyTeam11 One-day Internationals, also co-sponsored by Skoda and Fena, taking place on Thursday at this same venue.
Source: CWI Media
