Xtra Time Web Desk: A perfect captains knock from Rohit Sharma (64 off 44) and late order strike from Dinesh Karthik (41* off 19) powered India to 68 runs win in the 1st T20 against West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium on Friday. The win gave the visitors a 1-0 in the five match T20I series. Chasing a stiff 191 runs target, West Indies could only manage only 122/8 against a disciplined Indian bowling attack.
Arshdeep Singh gave India the first breakthrough, sending a charging Kyle Mayers back. Soon, Jadeja,, who was brought inside the first powerplay, cleaned up Jason Holder to rattle the top order. While Samarah Brooks and captain Pooran tried to rebuild, Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck to clean him up. Then on, the floodgates just opened as Windies kept losing wickets without any meaningful partnership.
Indian spin troika of Ravichandran Ashwin (2/22), Ravi Bishnoi (2/26) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/26) were exceptional. Bhuvneshwar returned with (1/11) in his two while Arshdeep Singh (2/24).
Earlier, sent to bat, India stunned everyone, sending Suryakumar Yadav to open with Rohit Sharma. But that surprise did not work out as intended. Although Suryakumar got off to a good start, he failed to convert that. India soon lost Shreyas Iyer for a duck as they were reduced to 45/2 in the powerplay.
However, it was Rohit Sharma, who finally returned to form in T20s, smashing his 26th T20I half-century. But India too struggled on a slow pitch with Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant all failing to make a mark.
With India 138/6 in 16 overs, Dinesh Karthik played the perfect finsiher’s role, smashing 41 off just 19 balls.He partnered with Ravichandran Ashwin for a 25-ball 52-run stand for the 7th wicket to take India to 190/6. Dinesh Karthik smashed four boundaries and two sixes in his blistering knock.