West Indies, once again, put in a disappointing show with the bat in the fifth and final T20I to help India win the series by a 4-1 margin on Sunday. Chasing a 189-run target, West Indies were outfoxed completely by Indian spinners.
Axar Patel opened the attack for India and spun a web around West Indies’ top-order. He sent the likes of Holder (0), Brooks (13), and Thomas (10) back to the hut inside the first five overs of the innings.
While Shimron Hetmyer held firm at one end and scored his fastest fifty of his T20 International career, wickets continued to fall at the other end.
Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi ran through West Indies’ middle-order as the duo combined to pick 7 wickets between them. As a result, West Indies were folded for just 100 runs on the board. As for Indian bowling attack, the likes of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav picked three wickets each, while Ravi Bishnoi went on to claim four.
Earlier, India managed to post a formidable score of 188 runs in the first innings on a surface that wasn’t the easiest to bat on. India made a host of changes in their playing XI and Shreyas Iyer came out to open the batting with Ishan Kishan.
Both took their time before playing their shots. While Ishan Kishan (11 off 13) failed to hit the straps, Shreyas Iyer held fort at one end. He stitched a crucial partnership with Deepak Hooda which set the foundation for a competitive score on the board.
The duo added 76 runs for the second wicket and helped India reach past the 100-run mark in the first 10 overs of the innings. West Indies managed to pull things back a little after sending both Hooda and Iyer back to the hut in quick succession.
Hooda made handy 38 runs in 25 balls, including 3 fours and 2 sixes. Iyer, on the other hand, played a sensational knock of 64 runs in just 40 balls, including 8 fours and 2 sixes.
The likes of Samson (15), Hardik Pandya (28), and Karthik (12) got out at regular intervals but India still managed to post a competitive score. As for West Indies, Odean Smith was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 for 33 runs in 4 overs, while the likes of Holder, Drakes, and Walsh picked one wicket each.
Here’s a look at some of the notable reactions from India’s fifth T20I win over West Indies:
??? UNPLAYABLE! Sum up that performance from Axar in one word ??
? Getty • #INDvWI #WIvIND #INDvsWI #TeamIndia #BharatArmy pic.twitter.com/pnHmBSuECp
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) August 7, 2022
Watching Axar Patel open the bowling against Jason Holder the opener was not on my expected things for the year 2022. #WIvIND
— Aakash Sivasubramaniam (@aakashs26) August 7, 2022
Deepak Hooda T20I career:
21(16), #4
47*(29), #1
104(57), #3
33(17), #3
10*(7), #6
21(19), #3
38(25), #3Versatile plus he bowls. Tough to ignore him for the WC.#WIvIND
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) August 7, 2022
Iyer opening ahead of Samson. This management keeps blowing away people. #WIvIND #INDvsWI
— Anuj Trivedi (@anuj10trivedi) August 7, 2022
Sanju Samson doesn't disappoint when it comes to disappointing. #INDvsWI
— Arun Dev (@ArunDev1) August 7, 2022
Arshdeep is the find of this tour. Controls the Back Nine so well. Seems a ball ahead of the batsman. He will have bad days too but right now Rohit will pick him ahead of many @arshdeepsinghh #IndvsWI
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) August 6, 2022
Other teams watching team india changing openers in every match :-#INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/KLjndhvTwP
— Nagendra singh chouhan?? (@k_p_7773) August 7, 2022
5th fastest indian to complete 1000 runs in #T20 .
That's @ShreyasIyer15#shreyasiyer#TeamIndia#INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/KjjeZkISVH
— S.Kaura (@Splendid_9999) August 7, 2022
Surya is not playing tonight Allah ne es baaby ki sun li ? #INDvsWI #BabarAzam? pic.twitter.com/s5TBaXtv8L
— ??????? z?o?? ???? (@BabarFanGirl56) August 7, 2022
#INDvsWI Hetmyer be like – pic.twitter.com/r0pEd6pIxC
— N a keen Skywalker ??? (@DarthDanin) August 7, 2022
Give this man more chances and you will see him becoming India’s Mr.Dependant #INDvsWI #SanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/WJH9EhRFP0
— Dr Nirmal Jyothi (@majornirmal) August 6, 2022
INDIAAA WINNN ?
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) August 7, 2022
