Chennai, Nov 11 (UNI) A breezy unbeaten half century by
south paw Nicholas Pooran (53) powered West Indies to a
commanding 181 for three against India in the third and
final T-20 International Cricket match here on Sunday
night.
Batting first on a wicket, in which the ball did not come
to the bat, Pooran blasted four fours and an equal number
of sixes in a 25-ball cameo as Windies scored 63 in the
last five overs.
After a brisk start by openers Shai Hope (24, 22 balls,
3x4, 1x6) and Shimron Heymyer (26, 21 b, 4x4, 1x6), who
added 51 in 6.1 overs, Denesh Ramadin scored a run a
ball 15 with two sixers, before Pooran and Darren Bravo
carted the Indian bowlers to ensure that the visitors
got a good total to defend.
Bravo finished at 43 not out in 37 balls which was
punctuated with two fours and two sixers, while Pooran,
who hit 15 runs of the 23 runs conceded by Khaleel
Ahmed in the final over, remained unbeatean on 53.
For India wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal claimed the
wickets of Hope, who holed out to long on, and Hetmeyr,
who was caught at deep cover, while Washington Sundar
claimed the other wicket, when Ramdin played on, trying
to cut.
The visitors started on a promising note with the
openers giving a promising start, before Bravo and
Pooran took over with a 87-run stand for the unbeaten
fourth wicket in 7.1 overs, accelerating at the final
stretch to ensure a good total.
Following is the scoreboard :
West Indies :
Shai Hope c Washington Sundar b Chahal 24
Shimron Hetmyer (LH) c Pandya b Chahal 26 (21b 4x4 1x6)
Darren Bravo (not out) 43 (37 b, 2, 2)
Denesh Ramdin b Washington Sundar 15 (15 b, 2x6) chopped on
N Pooran (not out) 53 (25b 4 4)
Extras : (lb-4, w-16) 20
Total : 181 for three in 20 overs
Fall of wickets : 1-51, 2-62, 3-94.
Bowling :
Khaleel Ahmed 4-0-37-0
M Washington Sundar 4-0-33-1
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar 4-0-39-0
Krunal Pandya 4-0-40-0
Y Chahal 4-0-28-2
UNI GV 2045