West Indies captain Rovman Powell believes that how well his team’s batters handle the Indian spinners during the middle overs will be crucial in determining the series winner. The West Indies team faced a slow-down in scoring during the middle overs, going from 54-2 after six overs to 96-3 by the end of 14 overs. India’s spin trio, comprising Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Axar Patel, took three wickets during their nine overs on the pitch.
After Nicholas Pooran’s dismissal at 41 runs off 34 balls, Rovman Powell took charge and played a vital innings of 48 runs off 32 balls, helping West Indies reach a total of 149-6 on a sluggish pitch.
Powell acknowledged the challenges posed by the Indian spinners and stressed the significance of his team’s performance against spin during the middle overs. He believes that the success of West Indian batters against spin will be the decisive factor in the series. The team’s left-handed batsmen, including Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, and Kyle Mayers, will play a crucial role in tackling the spin challenge in the middle overs.
In contrast to India’s spin-heavy strategy, West Indies opted for just one specialist spinner, Akeal Hosein, who proved effective by conceding only 17 runs in four overs and dismissing Shubman Gill during India’s run-chase of 150. The all-round performance by Jason Holder, claiming two wickets for 19 runs, including a double-wicket maiden, contributed significantly to West Indies’ victory. Romario Shepherd’s exceptional display, defending 10 runs in the last over, further secured their win.
Powell expressed his doubts about playing one less spinner but praised Jason Holder for being the match-winner. Despite India missing one of their top six batters, Powell was confident going into the last over due to Holder’s astute analysis of the conditions and effective bowling strategy.
With a 1-0 lead in the five-game series, West Indies will face India in the second T20I at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Sunday. The team plans to continue their strong performance against India’s spinners to maintain their advantage in the series.
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