Pooran notched up a brilliant half-century to help the visitors post a challenging target in the first T20I against India.
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Indian bowlers picked up early wickets at regular intervals but wicket-keeper batter Nicholas Pooran (61) fought back for the West Indies to help them post a challenging total of 157/7 in the first T20I at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday. The series will also be a test for India in their bid to prepare and assemble the best unit for the T20 World Cup in Australia, slated to get underway from October 16. Asked to bat, the visitors lost their opener Brandon King (4) on the fifth delivery to paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar. His opening partner Kyle Mayers (31), however, held the fort for the West Indies and was helped on by the brilliant batting display from Pooran.
Mayers’ 24-ball cameo, which included seven boundaries, was brought to an end by wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal after he was caught plumb in front of the stumps. Later, incoming batters, Roston Chase (4) and Rovaman Powell (2) failed to make much difference to the scoreboard as they were sent packing by Bishnoi in quick succession. Middle-order batter Akeal Hosein (10) too did not get going with the bat.
Pooran, however, continued on his slogfest and did not allow the Indian bowlers to settle with their dominance. He brought up his half-century in mere 38 deliveries and went on to hit four boundaries and five hits over the top in his 43-ball innings.
West Indies captain Kieron Pollard (24), then, took the innings forward with his unbeaten knock off 19 deliveries which included two boundaries and a six.
Leg-spinner Bishnoi who made a name for himself through his consistent performances in domestic cricket and IPL also impressed in his maiden T20I appearance for the national team. He returned the best figures for an Indian bowler in the first T20I — 2/17 — by unsettling the West Indies line-up after dismissing Chase and Powell in the same over.
Medium pacer Harshal Patel also picked up two wickets while Kumar, Deepak Chahar and Chahal scalped a wicket each.
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