India versus West Indies 2nd T20I: India seal the series with a thrilling win

 The Indian bowlers especially the pace bowlers held their nerves to register a thrilling win in the 2^nd T20I match played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Friday.

West Indies captain Kieron Pollard won the toss and decided to field first. Akeal Hossain was given the first over struggling with overstepping deliveries two front no-balls. The free hits did not yield results for the Indian team. Sheldon Cottrell bowled a brilliant first over taking the wicket of Ishan Kishan taking leading edge to Kyle Mayers and did not give any runs.  Virat Kohli looked in great shape putting pressure right back on West Indies bowlers hitting 2 boundaries off Akeal Hossain. Brandon King dropped a simple chance to get rid of Rohit Sharma.

Virat Kohli took on the West Indies bowlers moving around crease. After the initial struggle, Rohit Sharma also opened his shoulders. At the end of the first six overs, India made 49 for 1.

Roston Chase did the damage for West Indies getting the wicket of Rohit Sharma. Rohit and Kohli added 49 runs for the 2^nd wicket. Soon after, Chase struck again dismissing Surya Kumar Yadav with a simple return catch to leave India struggling. Kohli looked in sublime touch keeping the scoreboard ticking along completing his fifty off 39 balls. Chase got his third wicket dismissing Kohli to put India on the backfoot. Kohli and Pant added 34 runs for the 4^th wicket.

Venetaksh Iyer joined in with Pant and showed intent putting the West Indies bowlers under pressure. Both Indian batters hitting boundaries at will making life tough for visitors. Romario Sphered bowled a stunning yorker to get rid of Iyer for a quickfire cameo. Iyer and Pant added 76 runs for the 5^th wicket. Pant completed a half-century off 27 balls to help Team India post 186 for 5 in 20 overs.

It was a cautious start by the West Indies openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers. Rohit Sharma decided to bring in Chahal. Chahal eventually got rid of Mayers with a simple return catch. At the end of the first six overs, West Indies made 41 for 1.

Ravi Bishnoi bowled a superb first over giving away just 1 run and taking the wicket of Brandon King providing a simple catch to Surya Kumar Yadav at long-on. Nicolas Pooran looked in brilliant touch putting Indian bowlers under severe pressure. Ravi Bishnoi dropped a simple chance at deep midwicket to dismiss Pooran.

Pooran and Rovman Powell kept the hopes of the West Indies team alive with brilliant power-hitting with dew. Pooran showed glimpses reaching 2^nd successive half-century off 34 balls while Powell reached fifty off 28 balls. Powell was given a reprieve as Bhuvneshwar Kumar dropped a simple high return catch during his own bowling. With 29 runs required from 2 overs, the experienced Kumar gave away just 4 runs and took the wicket of Pooran as Bishnoi took a good high catch. Pooran and Powell added 100 runs.

It was a superb hitting display by Powell smashing 2 sixes before Harshal Patel kept his cool to help India close out the game.

India 186 for 5 in 20 overs (Pant 52*, Kohli 52, Chase 3/25) beat West Indies 178 for 3 in 20 overs (Powell 68*, Pooran 62, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1/29, Bishnoi 1/30) by 8 runs.

For his unbeaten 52 off 28 balls, Rishabh Pant was named the man of the match. India seals the 3 matches T20I series. The final match will be played on 20^th Feb on the same ground.  

 

India beat West Indies in the 2nd T20I by 8 runs to seal the series