makes room, and the bowler follows. It is a yorker outside leg, which is dug out to long-on. West Indies win by four runs
West Indies vs India, 1st T20I at Tarouba, WI v IND, Aug 03 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary
A thriller to start the series. The game pretty much went up and down during India's innings, before settling in West Indies' hands off the last ball. Deiva Muthu's report is up, where he describes how Holder and co did what they did, as we bid you goodbye from Tarouba. Join us for the second T20I on Sunday. Until then, take care!
Rovman Powell, the winning captain: "It's a very good feeling. We talked about starting the series on a positive note, and we did that today... After watching the Indians bowl, I was thinking if we were a spinner short. But the fast bowlers bowled into the wicket. It was difficult to bat, it was always going to be a good powerplay and a slowdown in the middle. This series will be decided how the West Indian batters play spin in the middle overs... it makes the left-hand batters very important. All the overs that Holder bowled were fantastic. At the interval, he told us to [take] pace off."
Hardik Pandya speaks now: "We were right in the chase. We made some errors which cost us, but it is fine. A young team will make mistakes. Throughout the game, we were in control. I have always believed that in T20 cricket, if you lose wickets, it becomes difficult to chase down a total. When we lost a couple of wickets [in a row]... it cost us. The bowling combination [of three spinners] was down to the conditions. We wanted Yuzi and Kuldeep to play together, and Axar brings batting. For Mukesh to have these two weeks and make his debut was fantastic. Very pleasing to see the way Tilak started his innings."
Jason Holder is the Player of the Match for his 2 for 19: "The amount of cricket I have been playing for the last three years is a lot. So the break [from ODIs] was well needed... We made them work hard for their runs. I guess the double-wicket maiden was a turning point. The conditions dictated our total. Pleased with the guys. With the quality side that India is, you always think they will chase that... We always wanted early wickets, and put the pressure back on them."
Time for the presentations
Chandan: "So 4 wides from Arshdeep in 19th over remains the difference between the two sides"
Ibrahim: "From nowhere, WI have stunned India. Incredible"
Ashish: "Arshdeep should be given full marks for trying that second."
2.21pm So West Indies win on what was a slow pitch, and go 1-0 up in the five-match series. They started well with the bat, then slowed down to finish on what seemed like a below-par total. But then they began nicely with the ball, before the debutant Tilak hit back with an attacking innings. And once he was gone, it was only a dream that was left when Arshdeep got two late boundaries. Holder bowled four overs for 2 for 19, including a double-wicket maiden. Hang around for the presentations.
Debutant Mukesh has to hit a six for a win
gets across, and he flicks a yorker length ball angling into off, to deep midwicket. It becomes a low full, as he swings across the line. And for what it's worth, Arshdeep attempts a second. But he gives it up less than one-fifth on his way back, and is run out, as the throw from Powell is clean, and close to the stumps at the striker's end
now fires a yorker, which is wide of off. Arshdeep doesn't manage a bat, and it's a dot
7 off 3
bowls a yorker just outside off from wide of the crease, but Arshdeep drags it to deep backward point for two
Back around to the left-hander
Kunal: "Super Over, dare I say?"
just tucks at this length ball on fifth stump, as the ball drops back on the pitch. They still pinch a single
Chahal will take strike. Shepherd from over the wicket.
cleans him up with a yorker! Kuldeep trying to be adventurous, and is hit bang on the base of the middle stump. Shepherd's angle meant the ball was coming into the left-hander, as Kuldeep skipped down the pitch, But the yorker was nailed, as it pitched on middle and Kuldeep missed his slash. The length was too full - and the ball too good - for that shot
Shepherd will bowl the last over, but not before a discussion with Powell and Holder. Around the wicket.
Okay, India need 10. West Indies are allowed only four on the boundary. Beware of outside and inside edges here.
full ball on middle and off, and flicked aerially to fine leg
11 off 7
just flicks this aerially towards fine leg, as this full ball angles in towards his pads
Lakesidey: "Arshdeep and Kuldeep taking it deep... but India in deep trouble!" --- That's quite a deep observation
wide outside leg. McCoy bowls full and outside leg, and Arshdeep lets it go
Balle balle! Arshdeep swats this good length ball over extra cover, as he makes room, and just hacks it away almost with nothing to lose
this will do. Flicked off the inside half of the bat, as this length ball angles in. Short fine leg dives to his right, but doesn't get a hand
makes room, and is beaten in trying to heave at this good length ball angling in
Arshdeep
"Holder is my Man of the Match!" --- Hang on just yet, Malli
Axar falls looking for the big one! This could be it. McCoy bowls a slower ball on a length around off, as he goes wide of the crease. The ball was angled in, as Axar made room to try and whack that. The shot and the bat swing didn't really indicate whether he wanted to go across the line or down the ground, but he ended up skying it to deep midwicket
India 21 away now. Here comes McCoy in what could be the make-or-break over. But, but... West Indies are penalised for slow over rate, with only four fielders allowed on the rope.
now he gets the single. Short ball outside off, and pulled to deep square leg
he slices down the ground for a huge six!. This ball had pace - unlike most others from Holder - and was bowled on a length. It angled across to end outside off, as Axar lofted back from deep in the crease
swats this short ball ending wide of off, and gets it wide of long-off for two
The required rate is now 12
full toss just outside off, and Kuldeep simply helps it to long-off, even as it was just out of Holder's reach to his right
short ball just outside off - and again it's a change of pace - with Axar pulling hard to deep square leg
Elsewhere, the Indian men's hockey team began their Asian Champions Trophy campaign in Chennai with an emphatic 7-2 win over China. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh starred with a brace, as did Varun Kumar. More on that here.
full ball on fifth stump, as he ends up chopping it back on the pitch. The pace was taken off, on a pitch which is slow already
good length around off, and punched to deep backward point
Required rate now 10.42
Over 20 • IND 145/9