The West Indies have little time to pick themselves up from a chastening defeat with Sunday’s second T20I coming hot on the heels of Saturday’s four-wicket defeat.
The pitch wasn’t the quickest but the West Indies were also impatient and they will need to show that they have learned their lesson.
Sunday 4 August 2019 | Central Broward Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida | 16:30
To Win Match
West Indies 31/20
Tie 35/1
India 52/100
West Indies
A total batting failure in the opening match of the series has left the West Indies needing to find an immediate response if they want to stay in the series.
Kieron Pollard’s patient 49 off 49 balls was the sole positive in a top-order malfunction that cost the Windies the initiative in the series. On a tricky pitch, the West Indies should have targeted getting over 130 but instead lost wickets too often and left the tail with too much to do.
With ball in hand, Sunil Narine and Sheldon Cottrell were brilliant and almost gave the West Indies a shot at the game. The Windies attack as a whole have the tools to put India under pressure but with just 95 runs on the board, their task was nearly impossible.
The West Indies need to make a positive start to Sunday’s second T20I whether they have the ball in hand or are sent in to bat. Both teams will take lessons from the first game which should ensure a better contest in the second match.
India
Virat Kohli would have been thrilled with the debut performance of young quick Navdeep Saini. Kohli is the young seamer’s IPL skipper as well and saw him take 3 for 17 in a man of the match display in the series opener.
Saini should be afforded another opportunity to impress and India may choose to retain the playing XI that won the first T20I.
India’s batting didn’t get out of first gear chasing a small target and they too will want to improve. The venue has been known for its high-scoring but appears to be a little sluggish at the moment.
Rishabh Pant has slotted in at number four but he got a first baller from Narine and will begin to feel pressure to deliver at T20I level with competition from World Cup places stiff. Another failed experiment was opening the bowling with Washington Sundar, though he did bag the wicket of John Campbell.
Verdict: West Indies
The West Indies should bounce back and learn from their mistakes, they will have seen India are far from invincible.
Written by James Richardson for Hollywoodbets.
