Windies march to Eden Gardens
Madhu Jawali Mumbai: April 1, 2016, DHNS
Virat Kohli won the battle of Royal Challengers, but Chris Gayle had the last laugh as West Indies chased down India’s big total to book their final date with England in Kolkata.
Whichever team wins Sunday’s summit clash would become the first nation to win the World T20 title twice. England were champions in 2010, while West Indies lifted the trophy in 2012.
Following a solid 62-run opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, who came in for Shikhar Dhawan, and another gem of an innings from Kohli (89 n.o., 47b, 11x4, 1x6), India ran up an impressive 192/2 after being inserted into bat first on an admittedly good batting surface. It was a total that appeared a little more than par given the short boundaries and the dew that made bowling a difficult proposition, especially for the spinners.
India, however, looked on course for a shot at the title when Jasprit Bumrah cleaned up Gayle with his first ball and Ashish Nehra sent Marlon Samuels in the next over.
With Windies reeling at 19/2 and their biggest hope back in the hut, it was hard to see Darren Sammy’s men staging a comeback from that stage.
But Lendl Simmons (82 n.o., 51b, 7x4, 5x6), riding his immense luck, turned the match on its head with no little help from Johnson Charles (52, 36, 7x4, 2x6) and Andre Russell (43 n.o., 20b, 3x4, 4x6).
West Indies replied with 196/3 with two deliveries to go off Kohli’s over.
Without taking anything away from West Indies show, it must be said though that India were more than generous in letting Simmons off twice. The Mumbai Indians’ batsman, who is quite familiar with the conditions here, got out when on 18 off R Ashwin but it was revealed after review that the off-spinner had overstepped.
Simmons, who had replaced the injured Andre Fletcher in the squad only on Tuesday, was again caught off a Hardik Pandya full toss on 50 and again it turned out be a no-ball.
The two mistakes dealt a debilitating blow to India’s hopes as Russell, too, joined in the Caribbean party.
DH News Service
Whichever team wins Sunday’s summit clash would become the first nation to win the World T20 title twice. England were champions in 2010, while West Indies lifted the trophy in 2012.
Following a solid 62-run opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, who came in for Shikhar Dhawan, and another gem of an innings from Kohli (89 n.o., 47b, 11x4, 1x6), India ran up an impressive 192/2 after being inserted into bat first on an admittedly good batting surface. It was a total that appeared a little more than par given the short boundaries and the dew that made bowling a difficult proposition, especially for the spinners.
India, however, looked on course for a shot at the title when Jasprit Bumrah cleaned up Gayle with his first ball and Ashish Nehra sent Marlon Samuels in the next over.
With Windies reeling at 19/2 and their biggest hope back in the hut, it was hard to see Darren Sammy’s men staging a comeback from that stage.
But Lendl Simmons (82 n.o., 51b, 7x4, 5x6), riding his immense luck, turned the match on its head with no little help from Johnson Charles (52, 36, 7x4, 2x6) and Andre Russell (43 n.o., 20b, 3x4, 4x6).
West Indies replied with 196/3 with two deliveries to go off Kohli’s over.
Without taking anything away from West Indies show, it must be said though that India were more than generous in letting Simmons off twice. The Mumbai Indians’ batsman, who is quite familiar with the conditions here, got out when on 18 off R Ashwin but it was revealed after review that the off-spinner had overstepped.
Simmons, who had replaced the injured Andre Fletcher in the squad only on Tuesday, was again caught off a Hardik Pandya full toss on 50 and again it turned out be a no-ball.
The two mistakes dealt a debilitating blow to India’s hopes as Russell, too, joined in the Caribbean party.
DH News Service
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