Windies concede series after crushing defeat
ANOTHER DISMAL performance led to another depressing result, as West Indies suffered yet another series defeat with a heavy 71-run crushing at the hands of India in the second Twenty20 International here yesterday.
Chasing an imposing 196 for victory at Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium, after captain Rohit Sharma clobbered a record fourth T20I hundred, West Indies fell apart in their run chase, stumbling to 124 for nine off their 20 overs.
Left-hander Darren Bravo topscored with 23 and tail-ender Keemo Paul got 20, but they were the only two to pass 15, as the innings never got going for the second straight outing in the three-match series.
For the Caribbean side, the series defeat was their fourth consecutive, and they have now also lost nine of their last 11 T20 Internationals inside the last 12 months.
Opting to field first, the Windies were battered up front by a record 123-run first-wicket stand as the incomparable Rohit Sharma slammed an unbeaten 111 off just 61 deliveries and partner Shikhar Dhawan, 43, to get India up to 195 for two off their 20 overs.
A disappointed Darren Bravo walks off as Indian fielders celebrate his dismissal in the second T20 International on Tuesday.
The right-handed Rohit counted eight fours and seven sixes, racing to his half-century in the 13th over off 38 balls before upping the tempo to reach triple figures off 58 deliveries, when he scooped a low full toss from captain and seamer Carlos Brathwaite to the fine leg boundary in the final over.
Left-hander Dhawan, meanwhile, struck three fours in a 41ball knock, surviving a chance on 28 to Keemo Paul in the deep – off Brathwaite in the ninth over, before perishing in the 14th - caught by Nicholas Pooran running to his left at deep square.