India put Ranchi horror behind, regain T20I series lead with bowling revival in Indore
Brief Scores: India (223-all out in 20 overs) beat West Indies (209/7 in 20 overs) by 14 runs in Indore.
India bounced back from their disappointing defeat in Ranchi with a disciplined bowling performance to beat the West Indies by 14 runs in the fourth T20I at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday. Defending 223, the hosts restricted the visitors to 209 for 7 to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
After failing to defend 250 in Ranchi, where Shai Hope’s unbeaten century powered the West Indies to a remarkable chase, India needed a response from their bowling attack. The hosts delivered this time, combining early breakthroughs with timely wickets in the middle overs and accurate execution at the death.
India made two changes to their playing XI, bringing in Prince Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy in place of Shivam Dube and Kuldeep Yadav. Both selections made valuable contributions, with Nitish breaking a threatening partnership and Prince impressing with his control in the closing overs.
Arshdeep Singh led the attack with three wickets, while Naman Dhir picked up two. Axar Patel and Nitish chipped in with a wicket apiece as India successfully defended their total on a batting-friendly surface.
ABHISHEK, KISHAN POWER INDIA
India’s victory was built on an explosive batting display at the start of their innings, although a middle-order collapse prevented the hosts from posting an even bigger total.
Sanju Samson fell for three off six balls, caught by Kamil Pooran at short midwicket off Shamar Joseph in the second over. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, however, responded with an aggressive partnership that put India firmly on course for a substantial score.
The pair added 108 runs for the second wicket, taking the attack to the West Indies bowlers and finding boundaries with remarkable regularity. India raced to 100 in just 7.2 overs, with the scoring rate suggesting that a total in excess of 250 was well within reach.
Abhishek was particularly destructive, reaching his half-century in just 18 balls. He continued to dominate the attack before falling for 69 off 30 deliveries, an innings studded with six fours and five sixes.
Kishan provided equally brisk support, scoring 37 off 18 balls with six fours and a six. Their partnership put India in a commanding position before Shamar Springer broke through in the 10th over.
MIDDLE-ORDER COLLAPSE HURTS INDIA
Springer ended Abhishek’s innings with a short delivery around middle and leg. Having committed to the pull shot, the left-hander could only produce a top edge, allowing the bowler to complete the catch himself.
Kishan followed soon after, falling to Roston Chase. The off-spinner bowled a length delivery that went straight on as Kishan charged down the track. Beaten by the length, the batter missed his attempted shot across the line, allowing wicketkeeper Shai Hope to complete the stumping.
Chase struck again by trapping India captain Shreyas Iyer lbw for one, leaving the hosts in need of a partnership to restore their momentum.
Naman Dhir made a quick 10 before holing out to Springer, while Nitish Kumar Reddy scored 21 off 14 balls before edging a delivery down the leg side to Hope. The wickets came at regular intervals, stalling India’s progress after their flying start.
Tilak Varma and Axar Patel attempted to steady the innings, but their dismissals further disrupted India’s efforts. Tilak departed for 28 off 16 balls in a bizarre run-out after failing to realise that the ball had remained in play following Axar’s shot towards deep square leg.
Axar was subsequently run out for 20 after a mix-up with Arshdeep, who had ventured too far down the pitch. India eventually finished at 223 in 20 overs, with Prince providing a late flourish by striking three fours in the final over. Joseph bowled Mayank Yadav with the last delivery to bring the innings to a close.
Chase, Joseph and Springer claimed two wickets apiece for the West Indies, with Chase’s timely breakthroughs proving particularly important in preventing India from converting their strong start into a much bigger total.
ARSHDEEP REMOVES HOPE EARLY
The West Indies began their chase knowing that the surface offered plenty of opportunities for the batters. However, India made sure the visitors did not settle into the innings as comfortably as they had in Ranchi.
Arshdeep provided the crucial early breakthrough by dismissing Hope for five in the second over. The West Indies captain, who had struck an unbeaten 102 in the previous match, attempted an attacking stroke but was bowled, giving India an immediate lift.
The early wicket did not entirely derail the visitors’ plans, as Shimron Hetmyer and Kamil Pooran launched a counter-attack. The pair added 60 runs, keeping the required rate manageable and threatening to put the pressure back on India’s bowlers.
Hetmyer scored 43 off 26 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes, while Pooran contributed 42 off 27 deliveries. Their aggressive approach briefly gave the West Indies control of the chase, with the partnership threatening to recreate the problems India had faced in Ranchi.
Naman Dhir then turned the contest by removing both set batters. Hetmyer’s dismissal broke the stand, while Pooran’s departure left the visitors searching for another substantial partnership.
Axar added to India’s progress by dismissing Rovman Powell for five. The West Indies were losing wickets at crucial moments, and India had finally managed to interrupt the opposition’s scoring rhythm rather than allowing the chase to gather unstoppable momentum.
NITISH, PRINCE DELIVER UNDER PRESSURE
Nitish made his presence felt at an important stage by dismissing Quentin Sampson for 21, with Tilak taking the catch in the deep. The wicket came just as Sampson looked to accelerate, further weakening the West Indies’ position.
India’s bowling changes had now begun to pay dividends. Nitish provided a timely breakthrough, while Prince maintained discipline with the ball and prevented the opposition from finding easy boundaries in the closing stages.
The West Indies continued to fight through Sherfane Rutherford, who scored 32 off 20 balls, and Shamar Springer. Rutherford’s innings kept the visitors in contention, but Arshdeep returned at a crucial juncture to tilt the contest decisively in India’s favour.
The left-arm pacer produced a telling spell in the 18th over, using accurate yorkers to dismiss Rutherford and Keemo Paul. The double strike left the West Indies with too much to do in the final overs and significantly reduced their chances of pulling off a late surge.
Springer, however, ensured the contest was not entirely one-sided. He smashed 35 off just 11 deliveries, briefly raising hopes of an unlikely turnaround with an explosive late assault. But the damage inflicted by India’s bowlers had already proved decisive.
– Ends
