The second T20I was played between India and West Indies at Eden Garden, Kolkata. India won the match by 8 runs. India had won the first match of the T20I bi-lateral series too. They were aiming to win grab the series by winning the second match as well. On the other hand, West Indies wanted to win the match to stay in the tournament and keep the chances of winning the series alive. However, their dream was shattered as India won the second T20I. West Indies had won the toss and decided to bowl first. The WI Skipper Keiron Pollard played his 100th T20I. India played the same team. While Jason Holder came in, Fabian Allen missed out. Let us check out who won the Man of the Match in Ind Vs WI in the 2nd T20I. Earlier, India had won all three matches in the ODI series against West Indies.
Who won the Man of the Match (MOM) in Ind Vs WI 2nd T20I?
Rishabh Pant is often known as the aggressive, spontaneous batsman that he is. However, today the way he ended the inning, remaining not out, showed a lot of maturity on his part. The young left-handed batsman has scored 52 runs off only 28 balls. In today’s inning, he had also smashed his 7 fours and a six. Rishabh Pant firstly established a partnership with Kohli when India had lost 2 quick wickets. Then, after Kohli’s dismissal, he very well managed it with Venkatesh Iyer, Had it not been for those crucial runs towards the end, India would’ve lost the match, looking at the attacking batting of the windies batters. Once again, Pant left cricket fans in awe, hitting those massive one-hand sixes. He is known for these innovative shots.
“As long as the team wants me to bat anywhere, I am fine. I think inside the circle, everyone was looking for that catch (Powell) to be taken and we thought it was Bhuvi’s catch but it happens and it’s part and parcel of the game. I don’t mind playing the situation and not only at the death. The more you practice, the better you get. The only thing we were talking was we will play according to every ball. It is never easy to play every game but this is what I have always wanted to do. I always enjoy what I do. He (Powell) was hitting bullets. At the back of my mind I was happy as well as Powell will be playing for Delhi Capitals (smiles).”
Rishabh Pant, Man of the Match
First Innings
India had a decent start as skipper Rohit was hitting good shots. However, Ishan Kishan’s wicket fell early in the innings, but it didn’t affect team India. Since Virat Kohli was hitting brilliant shots, the innings continued at a good pace. But in the eighth over, Roston Chase ended skipper Rohit Sharma’s innings at 19 off 18 balls. Another quick wicket, in the form of Suryakumar Yadav, followed. However, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant continued the game with an aggressive approach. Virat had scored a fifty, hitting 7 fours and a six.
At 52, Virat Kohli went back to the pavilion being a victim of Chase. Roston Chase had uprooted the first 3 batsmen single-handedly. Both Kohli and Pant had scored the same total of 52 runs, hitting the exact same amount of boundaries, the only difference was Rishabh Pant remained not out at the end of the innings. Moreover, Rishabh had continued the inning with Venkatesh’s help, following Virat’s wicket. Venky had made his crucial contribution by scoring 33 off 18, hitting 4 fours and a six. Rishabh Pant remained not-out scoring 52. India scored a competitive total of 186 runs losing 5 wickets.
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Second Innings
West Indies started calm and strong. It was only in the fifth over that Yuzvendra Chahal had caught and bowled Mayers, giving India its first breakthrough. However, Indian bowlers struggled to pick WI wickets. Nicholas Pooran has been in great form since the last match. Brandon King and Pooran were adding runs to the team’s total when Bishnoi managed to pick King’s wicket, he walked back scoring 22 off 30. However, this helped West Indies, as a very long partnership followed. Pooran and Powell were hitting lofty shots. there were a few misfields on India’s part, that facilitated WI even more. Both went on to score half-centuries and had established a partnership of 100 runs.
Just when the match seemed to almost slip off India’s hands, Bhuvi’s experience came to help. A very economical 19th over with a crucial wicket was bowled by Bhuvaneshwar Kumar. Moreover, Bhuvi had put an end to the in-form batsmen Pooran’s innings, sending him back at 62. Nicholas Pooran had scored 62 runs off 41 deliveries, smashing 5 fours and 3 sixes. The West Indies needed 25 runs off the final over. However, India was still terrified because Keiron Pollard was on the crease. Rovman Powell stayed not out at 68, with 4 fours and 5 sixes. Harshal Patel bowled the final over, 11 runs were needed of the final 2 balls, and Harshal ended WI’s hopes by allowing only a single. India won the match by 8 runs.
Match Summary
India Vs West Indies, 1st T20I, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India: 186/5 (Virat Kohli 52, Rishabh Pant 52*; Roston Chase 25/3)
West Indies: 178/3 (Nicholas Pooran 62, Rovman Powell 68*; Ravi Bishnoi 30/1)
India won the match by 8 runs.
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