WI vs IND: 4th T20I Review – All-round India claim series win

India registered a comprehensive 59-run victory over the West Indies in the fourth T20I at the Central Broward Park in Lauderhill, Florida on Saturday, August 6. By the virtue of this win, not only have the Men in Blue sealed the series but have also gone on to win a third successive overseas T20I series in less than two months.

After being asked to bat first by the Windies skipper Nicholas Pooran, captain Rohit Sharma (33) and Suryakumar Yadav (24) laid a solid foundation for India with a 53-run opening stand. When the duo was dismissed in quick succession, Deepak Hooda tried to resurrect the Indian innings with a cameo knock of 21. In the end, a quickfire 31-ball 44 from Rishabh Pant and an unbeaten 30 runs off 23 deliveries by Sanju Samson powered India to a stiff total of 191/5

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In reply, the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals as none of their top-order batters really got going and were kept under pressure by the Indian bowlers constantly. Only Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell (24 each) managed to show some resistance. However, it was not enough as the two-time T20 world champions were bundled out for 132 in the final over.

The good thing for India is that emerging pace sensation Avesh Khan who failed to defend 9 runs in the final over of the second game was very economical and chipped in with two wickets.

Top performers of the game:

Rishabh Pant:

Rishabh Pant who has been in good form in Tests and ODIs this year was inconsistent in the shortest format so far and now, he has proved a point with this impressive knock in the fourth T20I. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 44 runs off 31 deliveries including six fours at a strike rate of 141.9. His whirlwind knock helped India post in excess of 190.

Arshdeep Singh:

In the limited chances that he has got so far, Arshdeep Singh has time and again proved why he is a valuable asset in India’s pace department. The youngster made the ball do the talking yet again and finished with match-winning figures of 3/12 from his 3.1 overs at an economy of 3.8.

The left-arm pacer has yet again shown why he is a top contender to be in the Indian squad for the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup.

What’s next for both sides?

The West Indies and India will be facing off against each other in the fifth and final T20I at the very same venue on Sunday, August 7.