India beat WI by 5 wickets in 1st T20I in Kolkata

Speed Post News Network

Patna : India beat West Indies by 5 wickets in the first T20I at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on November 4, 2018, night, riding on dogged yet aggressive batting by wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, Manish Pandey, and all-rounder Krunal Pandya, the elder brother of Hardik Pandya, hostile fast bowling by Oshane Thomas often touching 144kmph to 149 kmph notwithstanding. India had won the toss but opted to bowl.

Karthik remained unbeaten on 31 in 34 balls with 3 fours and a six while Krunal Pandya, who was making his T20I debut,  remained unbeaten on 21 in 9 balls with 3 fours both adding 27 runs for the 6th wicket. Chasing a target of 110, India scored 110/5 in 17.5 overs. India now lead the 3-match T20I series 1-0. Rohit Sharma has won 9 out of 10 T20I as captain.

Replying to West Indies’ 109/8 in 20 overs, India lost their first four wickets including that of captain Rohit Sharma for just 45 runs on board with fast bowler Oshane Thomas taking 2/21 in 4 overs and Carlos Brathwaite taking 2/11 in 4 overs. Thereafter, Karthik and Manish Pandey steadied the innings with a 38 run partnership for the 5th wicket. Pandey was out for 19.

Rohit Sharma fell to Thomas for 6. Shikhar Dhawan also fell to Thomas for only 3 continuing his poor run. Lokesh Rahul fell to Brathwaite for 16. Rishabh Pant also fell to Brathwaite for 1. The lone over bowled by Kieron Pollard proved to be game changer as Karthik hit 3 fours in that overs.

Earlier batting first, West Indies scored 109/8 with Fabian Allen scoring 27 and Keiron Pollad 14. Keemo Paul remained unbeaten on 15 while Khary Pierre remained not out on 9. Opener Shai Hope was run out for 14 while Shimron Hetmyer made 10. Darren Bravo made 5 and captain Brathwaite 4.

For India, spinner Kuldeep Yadab took 3/13 in 4 overs while Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Krunal Pandya, and K Khaleel Ahmad took one wicket each.