West Indies defeated India by 8 wickets in the 5th and final T20I match of the five-match series which was played in Florida on August 13. India lost the series 3-2 to the West Indies.
In a crucial showdown, the Indian batsmen faltered when it mattered most, leading to a resolute West Indies team securing an eight-wicket victory in the fifth and final T20 International. The loss marked Captain Hardik Pandya’s first bilateral series defeat, as the West Indies triumphed 3-2 in the five-match series. Opener Brandon King’s remarkable unbeaten 85 off 55 balls guided West Indies to an 18-over victory.
In a turnaround from their batting brilliance just a day prior, the Indian batsmen, with the exception of Suryakumar Yadav’s gritty yet impactful 61 off 45 balls, struggled to post a competitive score of 165 for nine. The decision to bat on a worn-out track posed challenges, slowing down the run rate.
While faced with a challenging pitch, Suryakumar had to temper his aggressive style while managing to hit four fours and three sixes during his innings.
In response to this chase, Nicholas Pooran (47 not out off 35 balls) and Brandon King ( 85 not out off 55 balls ) displayed their fluent and aggressive styled batting. Together, they formed a partnership of 107 runs for the second wicket, propelling West Indies to victory despite three weather-related interruptions.
Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the standout bowler for India in an otherwise lackluster bowling performance. The West Indian duo of Pooran and King strategically played out Kuldeep’s spell, capitalizing on the other bowlers’ vulnerabilities. Yuzvendra Chahal struggled to make an impact.
Once the West Indies secured 60 runs in the powerplay, their momentum continued, capitalizing on the Indian bowlers’ short-pitched deliveries. Pooran took advantage of the gap between Long-on and cow corner.
While Nicholas Pooran and Brandon King managed 10 sixes between them, India’s batting failed to gain momentum during both the middle and final overs. Suryakumar, though effective, was slightly subdued due to the pitch’s sluggishness.
The track’s worn-out nature enabled left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein and off-spinner Roston Chase to trouble the Indian batsmen. Their tight bowling in tandem restricted India to 165 runs.
Despite a promising start by Tilak Varma, India’s momentum was hampered by the pitch’s pace. Suryakumar, while achieving his 15th T20I fifty, faced challenges due to the pitch’s unpredictability.
Sanju Samson’s (13 off 9 deliveries) dismissal further increased pressure on Suryakumar. Captain Hardik Pandya (14 off 18 balls) struggled to gain momentum, impacting Suryakumar’s ability to close the innings with a flourish. Efforts from Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar were insufficient to set a competitive target.
In the end, despite their efforts, the Indian team fell short, and the West Indies secured a well-deserved victory.
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