A decisive opening spell from Deepak Chahar followed up by half centuries from Virat Kohli and Rishbah Pant ensured that India condemned the West Indies to a 3-0 series whitewash following a seven-wicket win at the National Stadium, Providence yesterday.
Despite heavy rainfall, the fairly large crowd gathered saw play delayed by 70 minutes. However, when the sun pierced through the cloudy skies, the visitors won the toss and inserted the hosts to bat.
A spirited effort late in the innings allowed West Indies to post 146-6 from their allotted 20 overs before India eased to victory, reaching 150-3 with five balls to spare.
Chahar, in only his second match, troubled Sunil Narine, who was once again sent in as an opener but proved to be uncomfortable against the pace, ultimately fending a delivery wide of off stump into the hands of a diving Navdeep Saini at mid-on.
The 26-year-old seamer then struck twice in his second over, trapping Evin Lewis leg before wicket (a decision which was reviewed unsuccessfully) as well as dismissing local boy, Shimron Hetmyer in the same fashion to see the Caribbean side slip to 14-3. Chadar ended with 3-4, the best bowling figures at the venue in this format.
However, a 66-run stand for the fourth-wicket between Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran revived the innings.
Pooran looked settled against the spinners but played the secondary role to Pollard before faintly edging to the wicketkeeper for 17 from 23 balls.
Pollard continued to brutalize the slow bowlers, clobbering six sixes and a single four in his 45-ball 58. The 32-year-old was particularly severe on Rahul Chahar and Krunal Pandya striking two sixes in a single over from each bowler.
However, when his middle stump was pegged back by Navdeep Saini, Rovman Powell took control and provided an important cameo of 32 from 20 balls to see West Indies get up to a defendable score.
Skipper, Carlos Brathwaite failed once again to make an impact with the bat, hitting a six over long off and following that up by pulling a short ball into Washington Sundar’s lap at long on.
In the chase, India found themselves in an unfamiliar spot when Shikhar Dhawan stepped across his stumps and pulled a short delivery down the throat of Sheldon Cottrell at fine leg.
Kannaur Rahul lived dangerously in his brisk stay at the crease, missing the fingertips of the fielders on two occasions but was drawn out of his crease by left-arm spinner, Fabian Allen and stumped for 20 by Pooran.
However, a Kohli and Pant collaboration resulted insmooth sailing for India the rest of the way. Kohli looked his usual elegant self, picking the gaps with shots on the ground coupled with immaculate wrist work to pick six boundaries in his 45-ball 59. The Indian captain played one shot too many though, cutting a delivery to point for a soft dismissal that broke the 106-run stand.
Pant, as expected, shifted gear after Kohli’s dismissal and carried on, finishing the innings unbeaten on 65 from 42 balls. His composed innings was decorated with four fours and four sixes.
After the match, Brathwaite blamed the batting for the poor start but commended Pollard for his exceptional innings while Pollard said that he was disappointed that he could not take his team over the line.
Kohli said that he was happy with the team’s performance and praised the youngsters for stepping up.
