IND v WI, 5th T20I—Rain Stops Play; India 121/4 in 15.5 Overs

Surya Kumar Yadav Shines Again for India

Florida, 13 August: India lost both opening batters, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, in quick time in the fifth and final T20I against West Indies on Sunday in Florida, but Surya Kumar Yadav rescued India’s sinking ship with power hitting.

Jaiswal and Gill, who forged a 165-run partnership in the 4th T20I failed to make any impact in the series decider, as they scored 5 and 9 respectively.

Young middle-order batter Tilak Verma joined Surya Kumar Yadav and made 27 runs from 18 balls before being caught and bowled by Roston Chase, with India 66/3 in the 8th over.

Yadav kept the momentum going by taking Alzarri Joseph to the cleaners. He was 53 in 39 balls when rain gods intervened to stop the game in the 16th over.

Sanju Samson made only 13 runs while skipper Hardik Pandya was batting on 7*; India 121/4 in 15.5 overs.

India after winning the toss decided to bat first in the series decider.

After losing the first two T20Is to hosts West Indies in the ongoing 5-match series, India staged a remarkable comeback by winning the next two.

India were under pressure after West Indies sealed victory in the first two games, as the hosts needed one more win to claim the series but the young Indian side fought back well to challenge West Indies.

Although Nicholas Pooran, skipper Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer have been scoring runs, the opening batters, Brandon King and Kyle Mayers, haven’t fired in the series thus far. With Shai Hope’s inclusion, West Indies have strengthened their batting line-up but their openers and lower middle order batters are struggling against Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.

Another problem for West Indies is the lack of penetration and depth in their bowling attack. R Shepherd, A Joseph and J Holder haven’t been able to maintain pressure. The spinners, too, haven’t been consistent enough. Although Akeal Hosein and Chase bowled well on Sunday.

Rovman Powell said at the toss that his side will be happy to chase any target set by India.