2nd T20I: West Indies survive late collapse to secure 2-wicket win over India, take 2-0 series lead

West Indies held their nerves to withstand a late batting collapse during their pursuit of a 153-run target, clinching a narrow two-wicket victory against India in the second T20I in Guyana on Sunday.

This win has propelled West Indies to a commanding 2-0 lead over India in the ongoing five-match T20I series. Chasing 153, West Indies suffered an early setback with the dismissal of Brandon King on the very first delivery of their innings. This was followed by the loss of another wicket just three balls later, leaving the team struggling at 2 runs for the loss of 2 wickets.

The momentum of the game took a dramatic turn when Nicholas Pooran entered the crease. Displaying an impressive array of shots, Pooran bludgeoned the ball for four sixes and six fours, amassing a total of 67 runs off 40 deliveries. His partnership with Rovman Powell, who contributed 21 runs, yielded 57 runs and brought the team’s total to 89 runs in just 9.5 overs.

Subsequently, Shimron Hetmyer joined forces with Pooran, who continued to pile on the runs, eventually reaching a total of 126 runs by the conclusion of the 14th over. At this juncture, the outcome of the match seemed firmly in favor of the West Indies.

Despite a slight stumble that saw the team’s score drop from 126/4 to 129/8 in a brief span, Yuzvendra Chahal’s twin strikes causing the damage, Akeal Hossein and Alzarri Joseph demonstrated remarkable composure to guide their team across the finish line with seven balls to spare.

India got back into the game with a plethora of wickets thanks mainly to the leg-spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravi Bishnoi, but the pacers simply didn’t back it up at the backend of the chase. India now faces an uphill task of winning three games in a row to clinch the series.

Earlier, young Indian batter, Tilak Varma, showcased his prowess by scoring a well-structured half-century, his first in T20 Internationals, to help India post a total of 152 for seven. Varma, known for his fearless approach to the game, continued his impressive form in the shortest format of cricket.

The 20-year-old demonstrated his skill and agility as he scooped, swept, and heaved the ball across the field, scoring 51 runs off 41 balls. This achievement made him the youngest Indian to score fifty in T20 Internationals.

The match saw India in a precarious position at 18/2 when Varma came out to bat. He formed a crucial partnership with Ishan Kishan, contributing 42 runs. Later, he joined forces with team captain Hardik Pandya, adding another 38 runs to the scoreboard. Pandya, who scored 24 runs, attempted to boost India’s total by hitting two sixes. However, West Indies’ Alzarri Joseph delivered a stunning yorker that dismissed the Indian skipper.

Despite choosing to bat first, India’s game plan did not unfold as expected, with wickets falling at regular intervals. West Indies’ captain Rovman Powell strategically rotated his bowlers, a move that proved beneficial.

Kishan, who scored 27 runs, played a few notable shots during his 23-ball stint, including a six off Akeal Hosein. However, he was unable to convert his start into a significant innings and was bowled out by Romario Shepherd.

Shubman Gill’s brief time on the pitch ended after he hit a maximum in the third over but was dismissed on the very next ball by Joseph. Suryakumar Yadav was run out by Kyle Mayers, while Sanju Samson was stumped by Nicholas Pooran after moving too early down the track in search of a big shot.