Highlights, India vs West Indies, 1st T20I at Kolkata, Full Cricket Score: Karthik, Pandya take hosts to a 5 wicket win, lead series 1-0

Windies’ last seven T20Is in Asia:
L, L, L, L, L, L, L 

Their last win in Asia in T20Is came against England at Kolkata in World T20 2016 final match.

After 17.5 overs,India 110/5 ( Dinesh Karthik (W) 31 , Krunal Pandya 21)

Singles collected off the first two deliveries. Krunal pulls a short ball towards fine-leg, where Oshane saves a couple of runs with a dive. Krunal then flicks a full delivery towards square-leg for his third boundary, before guiding the ball towards deep extra cover for a brace to collect the winning runs for the home team. 

India win by five wickets and go 1-0 in the three-match series!

After 17 overs,India 100/5 ( Dinesh Karthik (W) 30 , Krunal Pandya 12)

Appeal for caught-behind against DK off the first ball, with WI wasting a review in the process. Krunal brings out a late cut off the fourth delivery to collect his second boundary, collecting a single off the next ball to bring up the 100. Six off the over. India within touching distance now. 

India need 10 to win off 18 balls.

After 16 overs,India 94/5 ( Dinesh Karthik (W) 29 , Krunal Pandya 7)

Singles off the first two deliveries of Allen’s first over. Karthik goes for a late cut off the third delivery to collect a couple of runs. Misfield at long on allows Krunal to collect a second off the penultimate delivery, before collecting a boundary off the last ball. 11 off the over. 

India need 16 to win off 24 balls.

After 15 overs,India 83/5 ( Dinesh Karthik (W) 25 , )

Three singles are collected in the over, with Pierre collecting an easy return catch off the last ball to break the partnership and send Pandey back to the dugout, while collecting his maiden international wicket. Game still not over guys! 

India need 27 to win off 30 balls.

OUT! The ball stops on Manish Pandey, who chips the ball back to Pierre to give the latter his maiden international wicket. Just when the Indians were starting to breathe easy, the wicket puts the pressure back on them. IND 83/5

Pandey c and b Pierre 19(24)

After 14 overs,India 80/4 ( Manish Pandey 18 , Dinesh Karthik (W) 23)

Skipper Brathwaite bowls his final over out, with a boundary and a brace collected by Pandey off the last two deliveries somewhat tarnishing his outstanding figures. He finishes off with figures of 2/11 from four overs, including a maiden. 

India need 30 to win off 36 balls.

After 13 overs,India 73/4 ( Manish Pandey 12 , Dinesh Karthik (W) 22)

Singles off the first two deliveries of Pierre’s second over. Pandey drives the ball behind square on the off side for a brace off the fourth delivery. Four off the over.

India need 37 to win off 42 balls.

After 12 overs,India 69/4 ( Manish Pandey 9 , Dinesh Karthik (W) 21)

DK collects a boundary off Pollard’s first delivery of the innings, guiding it towards fine-leg. Karthik goes on to collect two more boundaries in the over to put the West Indians under pressure once again. Rough start for Pollard, with 12 coming off his first over. 

India need 41 to win off 48 balls.

Lot of praise pouring in for the 21-year old Jamaican. Excitement everytime a new genuine fast bowler bursts onto the scene

Oshane Thomas is going to be an absolute superstar.

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) November 4, 2018

After 11 overs,India 57/4 ( Manish Pandey 9 , Dinesh Karthik (W) 9)

Spin introduced for the first time in the 11th over, as Trinidadian left-arm spinner Pierre bowls a tight first over, conceding just three off it. India need 53 to win off 54 balls.

After 10 overs,India 54/4 ( Manish Pandey 8 , Dinesh Karthik (W) 7)

Another excellent over from the Windies captain, with just two coming off it, as India struggle their way to 54/4 at the halfway stage of their chase, not very different from where the WI found themselves at the end of the 10th over.

After 9 overs,India 52/4 ( Manish Pandey 7 , Dinesh Karthik (W) 6)

Oshane Thomas brought back into the attack for his final over. DK hooks a short ball to fine-leg for the first six of the innings, somewhat ruining what would’ve been another terrific over from the Jamaican, who finishes with figures of 2/21.

After 8 overs,India 45/4 ( Manish Pandey 6 , Dinesh Karthik (W) 0)

Rahul goes for a pull off a back-of-length delivery from Brathwaite, but pulls it straight into the hands of Bravo at backward square leg to depart for 16, as India lose their fourth wicket. Hard-hitting keeper-bat Dinesh Karthik walks out to bat at six. A wicket-maiden for Brathwaite, who’s having an excellent run with the ball so far.

Make that 4.

Oho, India struggling on pitch that has some wakward bounce. Three early wickets gives West Indies some hope. Still think India will win, but the tail’s long. Substantial partnership needed now

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 4, 2018

OUT! Another one bites the dust, as Rahul holes out to the fielder at backward square-leg to depart for 16! India 45/4

Rahul c Bravo b Brathwaite 16(22)

After 7 overs,India 45/3 ( Lokesh Rahul 16 , Manish Pandey 6)

Keemo Paul returns to the attack in the seventh over, with a single coming off each of the first three deliveries. Pandey lofts the ball over the non-striker, as the ball runs away to the long on fence for a boundary. 10 off the over.

After 6 overs,India 35/3 ( Lokesh Rahul 13 , Manish Pandey 0)

Brathwaite into the attack in the sixth over, with Pant throwing his wicket away off the fourth delivery as India lose their third wicket. Pandey walks out to bat, with India in a spot of bother in their chase of the modest 110-run target. Three runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Now Pant has to walk back to the dugout as Windies collect their third wicket! Pant skies the ball while looking for a wild slog across the line, and Darren Bravo doesn’t let go of the chance at cover. IND 35/3

Pant c Bravo b Brathwaite 1(4)

After 5 overs,India 32/2 ( Lokesh Rahul 13 , Rishabh Pant 0)

Rahul rides the bounce in the third delivery and punches the ball towards deep point for a couple. Thomas fires a 148 kph bouncer in the fifth delivery, with the ball flying over the batsman as well as the keeper for four byes. Rahul nudges a full delivery towards fine-leg off the last ball to collect his second boundary. 10 off the over.

After 4 overs,India 22/2 ( Lokesh Rahul 7 , Rishabh Pant 0)

Rahul punches a back-of-length delivery from Paul through extra cover to collect his first boundary. A wide and a single collected off the remaining deliveries of the over. Pant yet to get off the mark.

After 3 overs,India 16/2 ( Lokesh Rahul 2 , Rishabh Pant 0)

Four leg-byes collected off the third delivery as the ball runs past the keeper, away to the fine-leg fence. Dhawan’s caslted off the penultimate delivery as Thomas beats him for pace, and uproots his middle stump. Pant walks out to bat at 4, starts off with a dot. Five runs and a wicket off the over.

BOWLED EM! Thomas certainly is making things a lot more interesting at the Eden Gardens, as he flattens Dhawan’s middle stump to send the other Indian opener back for a single digit score! IND 16/2

Dhawan b Thomas 3(8)

After 2 overs,India 11/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 3 , Lokesh Rahul 1)

Dhawan clips the ball towards fine-leg, where the fielder puts in a dive to save a couple of runs. The southpaw collects a single to hand the strike back to KL Rahul, who gets off the mark with a single off the last ball. Four off the over.

After 1 overs,India 7/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 0 , )

Rohit gets off the mark with a double off the first delivery, and clears the cover region three deliveries later to collect his first boundary. Thomas however, gets the Indian skipper caught-behind off the last ball to get the early breakthrough.

OUT! Thomas gets an early breakthrough for the Windies, as Rohit gets a faint nick to get caught behind for 6! IND 7/1

Rohit c Ramdin b Thomas 6(6)

Shikhar Dhawan’s SR in T20Is:

Overall – 129.92
2018 – 148.12

Rohit Sharma’s record at Eden Gardens in T20 cricket:

Innings – 13

Runs – 464

Average – 46.40

SR – 141.89

50s/100s – 3/1

After 20 overs,West Indies 109/8 ( Keemo Paul 15 , Khary Pierre 9)

Bumrah is so damn good at the death. Brilliant final over, flummoxing Pierre and Paul with slower deliveries, got to feel for Bumrah as the last ball goes for a boundary. Nevertheless, it has been an excellent bowling performance by Bumrah and the entire bowling unit. India require just 110 runs to early lead in three-match T20I series.

After 19 overs,West Indies 103/8 ( Keemo Paul 14 , Khary Pierre 4)

Yadav sends down the penultimate over, but it turns out to be expensive. Perhaps the rare over that has gone in Windies’ favour. Thrr boundaries coming off the over as Windies go past the three-figure mark.

After 18 overs,West Indies 87/8 ( Keemo Paul 3 , )

Lots of smart slower deliveries in Khaleel Ahmed’s final overhis final over. He has had an exceptional debut game as well, picking a wicket off the final delivery and giving away just 16 runs in his spell.

After 17 overs,West Indies 81/7 ( Fabian Allen 22 , Keemo Paul 2)

Allen is throwing his bat around and is able to somehow manage 11 runs off Bumrah’s third over. Three overs still to go.

After 16 overs,West Indies 70/7 ( Fabian Allen 12 , Keemo Paul 1)

Umesh Yadav is unfortunate to not have his second wicket as Rahul puts down Allen off the first ball. Seven come off it. Windies will have to bat out of their skins to reach 120. A sentence, I never thought I would say especially in T20 cricket.

After 15 overs,West Indies 63/7 ( Fabian Allen 6 , Keemo Paul 0)

Kuldeep ends his superb spell with three wickets that has sucked the life from Windies’ batting. He went just over three off his four overs.

After 15 overs,West Indies 63/7 ( Fabian Allen 6 , Keemo Paul 0)

Kuldeep ends his superb spell with three wickets that has sucked the life from Windies’ batting. He went just over three off his four overs.

Most catches as a wicket-keeper in T20 cricket:

151 – MS Dhoni
143 – Dinesh Karthik *
142 – Kumar Sangakkara

OUT! Kuldeep has another one, traps Brathwaite right in front. Windies falling apart like a house of cards. No review from Brathwaite as he was on the backfoot trying to work it off his legs, misses and that’s the end of his innings. While he slammed four sixes off four balls the last time he played here for Windies, this time he makes four.

Brathwaite lbw b Kuldeep Yadav 4(11)

After 14 overs,West Indies 58/6 ( Carlos Brathwaite (C) 4 , Fabian Allen 1)

Krunal Pandya ends his quota of four overs, giving away jus two runs off his final over and he ends with figures of 15 off his four overs with the wicket of Pollard. Excellent debut with the ball for the elder Pandya.

After 13 overs,West Indies 56/6 ( Carlos Brathwaite (C) 3 , Fabian Allen 0)

Two runs a wicket of Rovman Powell off Kuldeep’s over. However, the replays suggest Powell didn’t get any bat on that one. He simply walked once the umpire raised his finger. Nothing on the snicko. No protest, nothing.

OUT! GONE! Rovman Powell has still not deciphered Kuldeep Yadav, was playing for the leg-spinner, but it wasn’t. He was aiming to drive the full ball outside off through covers, but the ball spinning away meant, he could only get an outside edge to wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik.

R Powell c Karthik b Kuldeep Yadav 4(13)

After 12 overs,West Indies 54/5 ( Rovman Powell 3 , Carlos Brathwaite (C) 3)

Splendid stuff from Krunal here. Quickly got through his over that had plently of straight and quick deliveries, Powell is only able to get to the other end off the last delivery, the only run off the over.

After 11 overs,West Indies 53/5 ( Rovman Powell 2 , Carlos Brathwaite (C) 3)

Captain Brathwaite is in earlier than he would have liked, now he has to dig his team out of the hole and also maintain the scoring rate, but currently he is having difficulty in picking Kuldeep. Four runs and a wicket off the 11th over.

OUT! Annnddd Darren Bravo now departs. Tossed up delivery from Kuldeep and Bravo looking to nail it down the ground, mishits it, with the bat face closing and getting the bottom part of his willow. A fine running catch by Dhawan at long on. Windies lose half-side

Darren Bravo c Dhawan b Kuldeep Yadav 5(10)

After 10 overs,West Indies 49/4 ( Darren Bravo 5 , Rovman Powell 1)

After giving away ten in his first over, Krunal makes a strong comeback, giving away just two runs off the over including the wicket of Pollard. Rovman Powell is the new batsman, who has made his way to the centre. At halfway stage, Windies have lost 4 wickets for just 49.

OUT! Krunal Pandya blows a flying kiss as he claims his IPL teammate Kieron Pollard for his first T20I wicket. Was a full and quick delivery that Pollard aims to smash it down the ground, but doesn’t get enough. Manish Pandey at long on completes a regulation catch. Windies in trouble.
 

Pollard c Manish Pandey b Krunal Pandya 14(26)

After 9 overs,West Indies 47/3 ( Kieron Pollard 14 , Darren Bravo 4)

Kuldeep gets away with a full toss to Pollard off the first ball. Rohit still persisting with slip (himself) in position. Kuldeep slides one cross seamed delivery at 108 clicks in the over where he gives away just three singles.

After 8 overs,West Indies 44/3 ( Kieron Pollard 12 , Darren Bravo 3)

Couple of wides along with the first six off the innings, Windies collect ten off Krunal Pandya’s first over in international cricket.

After 7 overs,West Indies 34/3 ( Kieron Pollard 5 , Darren Bravo 2)

Rohit continues to attack with a slip in place in the 7th over with Bumrah bowling. Darren Bravo gets off the mark with a single through covers. Lots there for the fast bowlers to exploit on this surface. Ever since the pitch at Eden has been relaid there has also been something for the quicks. Be it the Test between India and New Zealand in 2016, another Test when India hosted Sri Lanka in 2017 where Suranga Lakmal caused trouble to the Indian batsmen and here even Khaleel, Umesh and Bumrah getting some assistance. Will be very interesting to see how Oshane Thomas foes here. Three runs off the over.

DID YOU KNOW?

Kieron Pollard is making his debut in T20Is in India. However, he has played 148 T20 matches in India before today.

Shimron Hetmyer in CPL – 18: (Third highest run-getter)

Innings – 12
Runs – 440
SR – 148.14
6s – 24

After 6 overs,West Indies 31/3 ( Kieron Pollard 4 , Darren Bravo 0)

Another fantastic over from Khaleel Ahmed. He is again able to keep Pollard quiet with getting some extra bounce from the surface at Eden. Only two runs off the final over with fielding restrictions. Darren Bravo is the new man in at 5. After the first powerplay it is advantage India.

After 5 overs,West Indies 29/3 ( Kieron Pollard 2 , Darren Bravo 0)

Captain Rohit Sharma loves match-ups. He brings in Jasprit Bumrah as first change to bowl at his fellow Mumbai Indians star Keiron Pollard. Bumrah claims the wicket of Hetymer as the India run through Windies’ top order inside the powerplay.

OUT! Bumrah has a first wicket in his first over. After being struck for boundary, Bumrah pulls back the length even further and bowled at slightly quicker pace as well. The climbing delivery hurries onto Hetymer, who again attempts the pull, but ends up top edging it. DK gets under the high ball and takes it safely. Windies lose their third.

Hetmyer c Karthik b Bumrah 10(7)

After 4 overs,West Indies 22/2 ( Shimron Hetmyer 5 , Kieron Pollard 0)

Kieron Pollard comes out at number four after the disastrous run out. Khaleel Ahmed causes some problems with the swing he is able to get as Pollard fails to get off the mark in the five deliveries that he faced. Splendid effort to bowl a maiden in the powerplay.

OUT! Chaos in the middle and West Indies lose Shai Hope to a dreadful run out. Both Windies’ batsmen end at one end and it was Hetymer, who got in first, so he will continue to bat. Hope flicked it on the leg side and set off for a run, Hetymer did come down halfway, only to abort and start running back to the non-striker’s end. Rahul with a horrible throw, which the leaping DK couldn’t collect, good for Rahul that Manish Pandey was just a couple of yards behind the ‘keeper to pouch it safely and whip the bails. Unfortunate end for Hope.

Shai Hope run out Rahul 14(10)

Shimron Hetmyer in CPL – 18: (Third highest run-getter)

Innings – 12
Runs – 440
SR – 148.14
6s – 24

After 3 overs,West Indies 22/1 ( Shai Hope 14 , Shimron Hetmyer 5)

Successful over from Umesh Yadav as he gets rid of Ramdin. Hetmyer has come to the middle and made his intentions clear with couple of lofted shots.

The last T20I at the Eden Gardens was the famous 2016 World T20 Final. And the hero of that match – Carlos Brathwaite – who hit six back-to-back sixes to win the match for the West Indies in an emphatic fashion, is leading the visitors tonight. 

Even without T20 stalwarts like Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and others there is plenty of firepower in this Windies line-up to provide India a stiff challenge in this series. Especially, their batting has a nice blend of youth and experience and it is going to be Windies’ strength in these matches.

OUT! Umesh has Ramdin edging. India draw first blood. Just touch outside off stump with the ball moving away. Not quite sure what Ramdin was trying to do their. he might have got a thin bottom edge, perhaps trying to run it down to third man, however he was tad too slow there giving Karthik an easy catch.

Ramdin c Karthik b U Yadav 2(5)

After 2 overs,West Indies 16/0 ( Shai Hope 13 , Denesh Ramdin (W) 2)
 

Khaleel Ahmed begins his T20I career with a wide down the leg side as he searches for that inward movement. Ramdin gets off the mark with an edge through vacant second slip region. Hope ends the over with a boundary. Eight runs come off the over.

Denesh Ramdin’s SR in T20s:

Overall – 121.98
T20 cricket – 96.77

Is it a good move from Windies to open with him?

DID YOU KNOW?

India have not lost any of their last five bilateral T20 series at home. They won four and one they drew against Australia in 2017.

After 1 over, West Indies 8/0 ( Shai Hope 8 , Denesh Ramdin (W) 0)

Umesh Yadav finds some swing straightaway at the Eden, but isn’t able to cause any trouble to Shai Hope. Couple of boundaries in the first over as Hope gets Windies’ innings off and running.

The anthems are done and the play is about to get underway. Two sides filled with some new faces. T20 brings in a lot of excitement and the return of some of Windies’ T20 specialists have only added to the build up.

Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin rings the bell at the Eden Gardens.

Shai Hope and Denesh Ramdin will open for the Windies. DK will keep wickets for India. umesh Yadav will start with the ball.

DID YOU KNOW?

Windies’ last win in Asia in T20Is came at Kolkata in 2016 in ICC World T20 final against England. They have lost six matches since then.

Brothers to represent India in T20Is:

Irfan Pathan/Yusuf Pathan
Hardik Pandya/Krunal Pandya*

Ideal way to start proceedings for India in this T20I series. Winning the toss and fielding first is always considered as the most prescribed option for captains in a T20 game in Kolkata. Dew is going to play crucial role over here. 

On Friday, the city experienced some unseasonal rainfall. However, the weather has cleared now and two days of sunshine should be enough to dry up the moisture underneath on the pitch. It will be a true surface for the batsmen and strokeplayers from both teams will enjoy batting here.

DID YOU KNOW?

This is the first time MS Dhoni has not been part of an Indian XI at home in T20Is. He featured in all the 31 matches previously at home.

Murali Karthik is present with Sunil Gavaskar alongside the pitch.

‘The pitch looks good and hard while there are some cracks, but they shouldn’t matter. The ball will come onto the batsman nicely, the odd ball will grip and turn.,’ mention Karthik and Gavaskar in their pitch report and reckon that around 175 will be a par score for the team batting first.

ICYMI, India released the 12 members for the first T20I lot of talks of spin-bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya set to make his T20I debut

India's 12 for the 1st T2OI against Windies. #TeamIndia

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 3, 2018

Head-to-head in T20Is:

Windies enjoy superior record of 5-2 against India.

With MS Dhoni absent from the T20I series against both West Indies and Australia, Rohit Sharma has stated that the likes of Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik have the opportunity to step up, and utilise the opportunities with the 2019 World Cup in mind. 

Click here for the full report.

Meanwhile, India look set to welcome another ‘Pandya’ into their fold, after all-rounder Hardik’s brother Krunal’s name was mentioned in the 12-man squad announced by the hosts on Saturday. If named in the XI, Krunal will be making his international debut at the age of 27 under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, who is also his leader at Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. 

Click here for the full report.

Meanwhile, West Indies have been dealt with a major blow on the eve of the first T20I against India, with star all-rounder Andre Russell ruled out for the entirety of the three-match series. Russell, for whom the Eden Gardens is something of a home ground in the Indian Premier League, joins Ashley Nurse in sitting out of the T20I leg of the tour. 

Click here for the full report.

The boys from the Caribbean are the current World Champion in this format. Though some of their T20 stalwarts are missing from the present squad, but despite that, this particular unit has enough firepower to provide the hosts a stiff challenge in a format in which they thrive.

Here’s the full preview of the first T20I between India and West Indies by Sandipan Banerjee.