IND vs WI: Team India win their 100th T20I game, beat West Indies by 8 runs in thriller to seal series

Team India inflicted yet another defeat on West Indies, to bag a historic 100th win in T20Is. The Men in Blue prevailed by 8 runs, in a game that was balanced on a knife’s edge till the very end.

Thanks to some brilliant bowling from Harshal Patel, the hosts were able to win on the day and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

In the end, Keiron Pollard, who was playing in his 100th T20I game couldn’t inspire his side as they succumbed to a second successive series defeat at the hands of India. Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell ran the show for West Indies, but putting a 100-run stand but they fell just short of the margin, 8 runs to be precise.

After asking India to bat first, who then obliged and put up a score of 186 on the board, West Indies came flying out of the blocks. Openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers scored 34 runs when India got their first breakthrough courtesy of Yuzvendra Chahal.

Nicholas Pooran came out to bat subsequently, and he played like a man possessed.

Brandon King was dismissed by young Ravi Bishnoi in the first over of his spell, but from then on, it was all about the West Indies. Pooran combined with Powell to devastating effect, hitting the ball all around the Eden Gardens.

Pooran scored 62 runs in 41 deliveries, including five boundaries and three huge sixes. He also received two lifelines and was dropped twice by the Indian fielders, before Bhuvneshwar Kumar finally saw the back of Pooran in the 18th over.

It proved to be the turning point in the match and gave the Indian side a glimmer of hope.

With 25 runs needed from the last over, Rohit Sharma turned to Harshal Patel and the Indian pacer got off to a nervy start as Powell scored two consecutive sixes in the third and fourth ball of the over.

West Indies needed 11 runs in the last two balls but Patel produced a stunning slower one which completely decided Powell and did the job for India.