Florida: India’s young opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill showed a glimpse of what is to come in an emphatic nine-wicket win over the West Indies in Florida, levelling the T20I series 2-2.
Jaiswal (84* from 51 balls) and Gill (77 off 47) put on 165 runs together in just 15.3 overs in their pursuit of West Indies 178/8, before Romario Shepherd broke the partnership with just 14 runs required off the final 27 deliveries. The joint-highest opening stand for India in T20Is, the pair’s work broke the back of their opponents, eventually chasing down the total with three overs to be bowled.
West Indies v India 4th T20I scorecard
Earlier, it appeared the West Indies held the upper hand in proceedings, posting 178 at the Central Broward Ground in Lauderhill, known to be on the slower side. Shimron Hetmyer’s 61 from just 39 balls lifted the West Indies to the imposing total, even after he walked out at 57/4.
Hetmyer joined the returning Shai Hope (45 off 29) in a partnership of 49 in just six overs, with the former kicking on as Yuzvendra Chahal (1/36 off four overs) lulled Hope into a false shot. The left-hander upped the ante as he batted with the lower order, though found late help in the form of Odean Smith’s 15* (12).
As the West Indies pressed on to claim the series a game early with the ball, India’s youngsters stood tall.
Jaiswal began the chase with a pair of boundaries in the first over, slashing Obed McCoy behind point before lofting one over mid-off. Jason Holder received similar treatment, before Gill got in on the act, hitting McCoy for six over the leg-side.
The young pair combined for 16 in the last over of the Powerplay bowled by Smith, as the blue’s run rate moved past ten. Gill notched up his second fifty-plus score in T20Is, with Jaiswal posting his first half-century in just his second match. The pair kept the foot down throughout the middle overs, and the stand was only broken after the damage was done, with Gill picking out Shai Hope at mid-wicket off the bowling of Shepherd.
Jaiswal alongside Tilak Varma (7*) completed the chase.
The teams back up and play the deciding T20I in Lauderhill on Sunday.
Courtesy: ICC