On Sunday, West Indies defeated India by two wickets in the second T20I in Guyana. The victory gave the hosts a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. They won back-to-back matches for the first time since 2016. However, the match was not without its fair share of drama.
Hardik Pandya, India's captain, won the toss and chose to bat first. Despite Tilak Varma's fifty, the Rovman Powell-led team held India to 152 for 7. The southpaw, who reached his first half-century in 39 balls, scored 51 off 41 balls but was not helped by other Indian batsmen. Alzarri Joseph picked 2/28, as he was the standout bowler for the host.
Nicolas Pooran shines as West Indies wins 2nd T20I
West Indies appeared to be on their way to triumph when chasing a 153-run total, after Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh reduced West Indies to 32/3 in 3.4 overs, Pooran made a vital 50-run partnership with skipper Rovman Powell.
Nicholas Pooran scored 67 runs off 40 balls. With 27 runs off 37 balls and six wickets in hand. However, a quick collapse saw them lose four wickets for three runs in the space of 13 deliveries, upending their steady progress. However, an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 26 runs between Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph proved to be the turning moment in a spectacular recovery. Both players not only saved their side with the bat, but also made big contributions with the ball, capturing two wickets apiece to limit India to 152 runs.
After the win, West Indies captain Rovman Powell said: "It is a very good position to be in. Hopefully we can keep winning. We always knew it was going to come down to how we batted against spin.
"Shows cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. I realised that whenever batters go at the bowlers, they don't go at the first over. I tried to eliminate that and gave my bowlers one-over spells, especially fast bowlers because it is very hot."
The victory is an important victory for the West Indies, highlighting their rising proficiency in the T20I format. India, on the other hand, will need to recover and rethink their strategy before the next match.
Here's how fans reacted
Fuddu captaincy Harpic landya😡😡🤬😡🤡🤡🤡🤣🤣💯
— Satya P Singh(spbtctrade) (@spsinghweb) August 6, 2023
Axar would have ended this match in his one over
— Vignesh (@ViniciusJrERA) August 6, 2023
Chahal instead of Arshadeep in 18th over would have sealed the Game easily 🥲...
— CMA Monesh (@Cmamonesh) August 6, 2023
Big blunder by our 🥲🥲
Chahal should have bowled 18th or 19th over, Party culture and overconfidence destroying Team India
— Shubman Gang (@ShubmanGang) August 6, 2023
Poor Captaincy from Pandya
— Lubana Warriors (@LovepreetS49) August 6, 2023
At Hardik pandya's house
— Co_LoCoPilot (@Ind_Locopilot) August 6, 2023
Inexplicable captaincy by Hardik, not using Chahal in death. Well deserving win for windies.
— Dinesh Sharma (@sdineshaa) August 6, 2023
God knows when these experiments will end.
Team management made Pandya captain based on 1 ipl trophy.. selectors are the problem
— who’s this guy (@realjabronii) August 6, 2023