WI VS IND 1ST T20I

Right then! This five-match series has gotten off to an exciting start and the West Indies have shown that they can not be taken lightly. They have a 1-0 lead and will want to build on their winning momentum by clinching the next game. India will have to overcome this disappointment at the earliest in order to level the series. We will now move to the Providence Stadium in Guyana for the second T20I which will be played on Sunday 6th August. The first ball will be bowled at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT) but you can join us well in advance for the build-up. Until then, goodbye and cheers!

Rovman Powell, the captain of West Indies says that it is a very good feeling and they wanted to start this series on a positive note. Adds that he was confident in the last over as India did not have a set batter. Mentions that after seeing the Indians bowl, he thought they could have played an extra spinner but the pacers were brilliant. Tells that it was always going to be a good Powerplay and then it would slow down so how they played the Indian spinners with Nicholas Pooran and Kyle Mayers became important. Ends by saying that all the overs bowled by Jason Holder were important as the conditions were difficult and their plan was to take pace off which worked well.

Hardik Pandya, the skipper of India says that they were right in the chase and were looking comfortable but they made a few mistakes which is fine. Adds that the young players will learn from this and come back stronger so he is not worried. Mentions that in T20 cricket losing wickets early makes the run chase tougher and that is what happened to them. Goes on to say that they needed to build a partnership which would have helped them get closer to the target but things did not go as per the plans. Informs that Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are both good spinners and they need to find a way to get them to play together while Axar Patel adds to the batting component. Claims that this tour was great for Mukesh Kumar as he has now made his debut in all formats and they are every happy for him as he is good guy. Ends by saying that Tilak Varma showed what he is all about as he started his career with two big sixes.

Jason Holder is the Player of the Match for his match figures of 4-1-19-2. He says that he has played a lot of cricket and it was good to take some time off so he feels more energetic. Adds that he was happy that he stuck to the plans and was rewarded. Mentions that the double-wicket maiden was the turning point and says it was a team effort. Tells that the early wickets helped them and it is important in this format and he is happy to be on the winning side.

Time for the presentations...

West Indies got off to a quick start with the bat after winning the toss courtesy of Brandon King who raced to 28 in 19 deliveries. Both the Windies openers were dismissed in the same over by Yuzvendra Chahal which shifted the tide in India’s favor. Kuldeep Yadav got rid of Johnson Charles soon after but Nicholas Pooran was the danger man as he looked to be aggressive from the word go. He scored 41 runs in 34 deliveries and was dismissed by Hardik Pandya. Rovman Powell did get a lifeline when he was dropped at cover but went out to score 48 runs in 32 balls. He was dismissed by Arshdeep Singh who also claimed the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer in the same over. Mukesh Kumar did not concede a boundary in the two overs he bowled in the death restricting the hosts to what seemed like an under-par score.

India got off to a circumspect start as the two openers struggled to get any bat on the ball cleanly. As the pressure was built up by the Windies bowlers, Shubman Gill decided to charge the spinner and was stumped well outside the crease. Ishan Kishan was also dismissed right after he scored a streaky boundary and it was Tilak Varma who changed the momentum as he thumped back-to-back sixes to get his first international runs. Suryakumar Yadav scored a run-a-ball 21 as he along with Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, and Axar Patel all got starts but could not make the most of it. Arshdeep Singh played a couple of lusty blows to take the game deep but Romario Shepherd managed to defend 10 runs in the last over to ensure that India's tail does not pull off a heist.

A remarkable win for West Indies as they put up a solid bowling performance to clinch an absolute nail-biter! They won by a margin of 4 runs and take a 1-0 lead in this 5-match T20I series. It is their strongest format and the two-time world champions have proved their worth in this encounter. India will be really disappointed as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and never seemed to get ahead of the chase at any point in time. The West Indies batters were also not at their best but the bowlers held their nerves and helped their side over the finish line. Jason Holder was the pick of the bowlers conceding just 19 runs in his four overs including a double-wicket maiden. Akeal Hosein was economical and was rewarded with one scalp with Obed McCoy and Romario Shepherd claiming two wickets each.

Romario Shepherd has done it for West Indies! He nails another yorker, on leg, angling in, Mukesh Kumar jams it out towards long on for just a run. WINDIES WIN BY 4 RUNS!

Mukesh Kumar can be a hero for India on his T20I debut as he makes his way out to face the last ball! Six runs are needed in 1 ball.

OUT! RUN OUT! Arshdeep Singh is gone now! This is full and on middle, Arshdeep Singh clips it towards deep mid-wicket for a run, and they decide for the second, but Shimron Hetmyer is lightning quick in the deep and throws it at the batter's end where Nicholas Pooran takes the bails off while Arshdeep Singh is nowhere near the crease. India nine down now!

A crucial dot! Romario Shepherd bowls a low full toss, outside off, Arshdeep Singh stays in his crease and throws his bat at it but fails to reach it. 7 needed in 2 balls now!

Another good yorker, outside off, Arshdeep Singh squeezes it wide of deep point for a couple of runs.

On a length and on off, slower too, Yuzvendra Chahal tries to push it away but gets a bottom edge onto the pitch and steals a single. Arshdeep Singh is back on strike! 9 needed in 4 balls now!

Yuzvendra Chahal runs onto the field and then decides to go off but is called back to the centre. He will be the number 10 batter for India!

OUT! BOWLED'EM! More importantly, it is a dot ball! Arshdeep Singh remains on the other end. Romario Shepherd nails the yorker from around the wicket, on middle, angling in, Kuldeep Yadav comes down the track and fails to get his bat down in time as the ball goes through to shatter the stumps. West Indies two wickets away from the victory while India still needs 10!

Romario Shepherd will have the responsibility of closing this inning out! West Indies have been fined for slow over-rate. They had five fielders inside the circle in the last over and the same will happen now as well. Will it be an advantage for India?