McCoy, King shine as WI level series
Obed McCoy produced the best-ever figures by a West Indies bowler in Twenty20 Internationals before the Caribbean side held their nerve in the final over to beat India for the first time in nearly three years and level the five-match series at 1-1.
Left- arm seamer McCoy snatched six for 17 from a brilliant four-over spell as India, sent in at Warner Park on Monday, crumbled for 138 all out off 19.4 overs
Opener Brandon King then lashed a top score of 68 from 52 deliveries to inspire a successful West Indies run chase, Devon Thomas arriving at the back end to punch a crucial 19-ball unbeaten 31 to hand the home side a fivewicket win with four balls to spare.
With West Indies requiring 10 runs from the last over, Thomas cleared the ropes at extra cover with the first legitimate delivery of the over from seamer Avesh Khan before slashing the next ball to the backward point boundary.
The victory was the hosts’ first win in six outings against India and only their second in their last 14 dating back to 2018.
“I can finally breathe now,” captain Nicholas Pooran said afterwards.
“We made a mess of this total today but in saying that, India did bowl well in phases but I’m really happy we crossed the line today.”
Hardik Pandya top-scored with a run-a-ball 31, Ravindra Jadeja, batting at number six, struck 27 from 30 balls, while Rishabh Pant chipped in with a 12-ball 24 but no one else passed 20 as India’s batsmen struggled uncharacteristically.
McCoy struck with the first ball of the game – twice delayed from its scheduled 10:30 am start due to the late arrival of luggage into the country – removing captain Rohit Sharma to a catch at short third man off a lifting delivery.
And with the first delivery of his next over with the score on 17, McCoy had Suryakumar Yadav (11) nicking behind – the first of three catches for Thomas, in his first match in almost a month.
When Shreyas Iyer also edged behind for 10 in the fifth over, slashing at a pacy delivery from fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and Pant perished to a catch at mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein, India were stumbling on 61 for four in the seventh over.
“It’s a great feeling. I’ve been working really hard and to be able to perform against a top side like India, is a great, great feeling,” said the 25-year-old McCoy.