31 March 2016, The Indian cricket team takes on the unpredictable West Indies in the second semifinals of the ICC World Twenty20. The match was scheduled at one of the most iconic grounds in India, The ground where the MSD lead India completed the nation’s thirst and lift the much-coveted 2011 World Cup trophy, the Wankhede Stadium. On this date, West Indies defeated India by 7 wickets to deny us a place in the finals of the ICC World T20 Cup.
A jam-packed ground with fans all across the country flooding the stadium colored blue saw the Indian cricket team batting first as the West Indies skipper Darren Sammy decided to bowl after winning the toss. The Indian batsman made the most of the home support and tore apart the West Indies bowling line up.
Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane hit a quick 40’s and laid a strong foundation for the team. Then India vice-captain Virat Kohli made the most of it and blitzkrieged the Carriabian attack. The second in charge skipper smashed West Indies to score his third half-century of the tournament. Virat wreaked havoc and scored 89 runs in just 47 balls in a knock that included 11 fours and a single six. Ending the innings at 192/2 in the 20 overs, India had a foot in the finals. However Little did the Mumbaikars know, they were in for a major heartbreaking twist.
Chasing 193, West Indies got off to the worst start possible as the Jasprit Bumrah got the better of Gayle in just the second over of the innings while Marlon Samuels was soon sent back in the hut for just 8 runs after being undone by Ashish Nehra. With 3 overs gone, West Indies were languishing at 19-2.
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Johnson Charles and Lendl Simmons rebuilt the sinking ship and struck up an amazing 97-run partnership for the third wicket leading the WI on a frim their grip on the match. Charles scored a crucial half-century which helped the WI get back into the game India found an unregular wicket-taker as Virat Kohli rolled up his arm and dismissed Charles in the 14th over of the match. However, the Indian bowlers could not have a sigh of relief as in walked Andre Russell.
West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell joined in Simmons in the middle and hit the Wankhede stadium like a storm. The all-rounder display some mad power-hitting skills tonking Indian bowlers all across the powers. It rained sixes like hailstorms with Indian fans sitting with their jaw dropped in utter disbelief. Simmons, who was Andre Fletcher replacement coming into the tournament became WI’s top-scorer scoring 82 runs in 51 balls in a knock that included seven fours and five sixes.
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The Russell-Simmons duo took the match away from India with that formidable 80-run partnership. Russell scored 43 runs off just 20 balls and helped the West Indies team chase up the target with 2 balls left.
