Young Nicholas Pooran’s brilliant half-century and an unbroken 87-run partnership with Darren Bravo helped Windies to put a good total of 181/3 on the board at the end of first 20 overs in the third and final T20I of the series against the hosts India at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai).
After winning the toss, the Windies skipper Carlos Brathwaite decided to bat first. Finally, the Windies top-orders showed some better performances in this tour. The Windies openers had a 50+ partnership as the openers Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer provided a 51-run partnership for that wicket.
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However, both the openers failed to convert their good starts as both were dismissed soon after the mandatory powerplay ends. Hope was dismissed on 24 runs while Hetmyer lost his wicket on 26 runs.
The wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Ramdin lost his wicket on 15 runs but the next partnership between Darren Bravo and Nicholas Pooran helped the visitors to put a big total on the board. They had an unbroken 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket and that helped Windies to score 181/3 at the end of 20 overs.
While Bravo remained unbeaten on 43 off 37 balls (2 fours and 2 sixes), Pooran completed his half-century in 24 balls and finished with the not out tag on 53 off 25 balls (4 fours and 4 sixes).
Among the Indian bowlers, Yuzvendra Chahal (2/28) picked up two wickets and Washington Sundar (1/33) got one wicket in that innings.
Some key stats of the innings:
- Windies openers Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer put a 51-run partnership for the opening wicket. It was their first 50+ opening partnership in T20I cricket on the Indian soil. Their previous highest was the 39-run opening partnership between Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher against Sri Lanka at Bengaluru on March 20, 2016.
- Windies batsman Nicholas Pooran completed his half-century in just 24 balls. It was the joint second fastest T20I half-century by a Windies batsman against India (Evin Lewis had also completed a T20I half-century against India in 24 balls at Kingston on July 9, 2017). The record holder is Johnson Charles with 20-ball half-century against India at Lauderhill on August 27, 2016.
- Windies batsmen Darren Bravo and Nicholas Pooran provided an unbroken 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket. It was their highest T20I partnership for the fourth wicket. Their previous record was an unbroken 80-run partnership between Lendl Simmons and Andre Russell against India at Mumbai on March 31, 2016.
- Windies scored 181/3 at the end of 20 overs. Batting first innings, it was Windies’ second-highest T20I total against India. The record is 245/6 (20 overs) at Lauderhill on August 27, 2016.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
13 overs done. No Pollard. No Braithwait. Why play them at all if they’re not considered good enough to bat 7 overs in a T20 game? #IndvWI
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 11, 2018
Chahal is bowling the slowest amongst the spinners….he’s the most successful bowler thus far. There’s a lesson for his colleagues on this pitch… #IndvWI
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 11, 2018
Hey @mipaltan Just Buy Nicholas Pooran.. And kick out Pollard #INDvWI #INDvsWI
— Vivek Sharma (@IMViiku) November 11, 2018
Nicholas Pooran not only timed the ball very well today but also timed his innings very well. Perfect time to play such an innings with the IPL auctions coming up. #INDvsWI
— Nandan Kulkarni (@nandan_gk) November 11, 2018
What an assault that was from Nicholas Pooran! Spectacular batting. Interesting challenge this for the Indian batting lineup #INDvsWI
— Omkar Mankame (@Oam_16) November 11, 2018
Post diwali fireworks from Nicholas Pooran! 1st International fifty from this talented lad!
Let's see how india chase this target! #IndVsWi— Pulkit (@Pulkit1070) November 11, 2018
WI nvr fails to produce thiz hard hitters but don't get consistent changes or don't want to play for the WI…they can be the same old WI if they get their things right with the board. @cricketaakash #INDvsWI
— Pramod Bochiwal (@ca_pramodsharma) November 11, 2018
Lmao see how Captaincy is overrated …. If u bowl shit like Khaleel in 20th over nd a batsman gets stuck into there's nothing a captain can do … #INDvsWI
— Virat Kohli💪💪💪 (@iam_adi_thebest) November 11, 2018
The Chepauk is duly Missing its adopted son 😔
A huge vacancy can be felt 😓
Miss U MSD07 😪#INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/f7pdmja4fc
— Mr.Ⓜ️ysterious (@ItZ_Draconian) November 11, 2018
Pooran is like no Kuldeep yadav it's time to party.#INDvsWI
— SOAM SARKER (@soamsarker) November 11, 2018
