FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, CMC – West Indies will take another crack at closing out their Twenty20 International series against India, when they face the Asian powerhouses in the first game of a weekend double-header here today.
The Caribbean side muffed their last opportunity to clinch their first series win over India in seven years, when they slipped to a seven-wicket defeat in Georgetown last Tuesday.
West Indies entered the contest at the National Stadium with a 2-0 lead, having won the opener at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad by four runs and the second T20 International – the first of the double-header in Georgetown – by two wickets.
However, they watched as India easily chased down 160 to win with 13 balls to spare, and haul themselves back into a series they looked like losing with games left.
Reflecting on the defeat, captain Rovman Powell said his side’s pace attack had been too predictable, and was expecting more variety for the Florida finale.
“I think we bowled too many pace-on deliveries,” said the Jamaican.
“We talked about taking the pace off the ball and make the Indian batters have to power-hit the ball and not just use the pace to pick the gap, and I think we [went] away from that just a little bit.”
West Indies’ bowling attack has carried them in the series with seamer Jason Holder and left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein boasting economy rates of under seven, and fast bowlers Alzarri Joseph and Romario Shepherd picking up four wickets apiece.
Powell, meanwhile, is one of two batsmen with more than 100 runs for West Indies with 109, the other being in-form left-hander Nicholas Pooran who has gathered 128 runs at an average of 42.
However, West Indies will be seeking contributions from the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Kyle Mayers and Johnson Charles, all of whom have struggled for runs in the series.
West Indies arrived Wednesday and trained at the playing venue – the Broward County Park Stadium – on Thursday, as they finalised preparation for the double-header.
According to Cricket West Indies, at least 15,000 spectators are expected to watch the games, along with a combined audience of over 200 million viewers on television and mobile devices.
When West Indies clashed with India at the venue last August, they suffered back-to-back defeats in a similar double-header.
But recently appointed West Indies head coach Darren Sammy said his side was anxiously looking forward to the two contests.
“We’re excited to be back in Fort Lauderdale and we thank the great hosts here for welcoming us and staging the matches,” Sammy said.
“We’re really looking forward to this weekend. There is a lot to play for and we really want to put on a good show for the fans.
“It’s always non-stop action when we play at Broward County Stadium … the atmosphere is amazing … we feel at home.
“The players are pumped up for what is to come in these two matches. We’d love to see local Floridians come out and enjoy.”
Both games bowl off 10:30 am (Eastern Caribbean time).
SQUADS:
WEST INDIES – Rovman Powell (captain), Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas, Odean Smith
INDIA – Hardik Pandya (captain), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar