In this virtual quarterfinal clash between India and West Indies, the visitors were put into bat and have gotten off to a steady start as they are going with keeping wickets in hand and then explode later on as West Indies bat deep. Shai Hope and Roston Chase opened the batting and have survived the initial spell with Chase getting a reprieve off Bumrah’s bowling with Abhishek Sharma dropping a sitter. India, the worst fielding side in this tournament.
West Indies openers get off to a steady start in powerplay.Â
Put into bat first, captain Shai Hope and Roston Chase opened the batting for West Indies while Arshdeep Singh had ball in hand for India. Arshdeep bowled a good first over. Hardik Pandya shared the new ball from the other end. Hope broke the shackles as he picked it up and pulled it high over midwicket for the maximum. Hope then made room and drove the ball on the up through covers for a boundary between covers and cover point.
Arshdeep Singh continued as both Chase and Hope had a miscommunication, but the throw went haywire and both batters survived. Chase then showed his class as he lofted the ball over the bowler’s head for a boundary. Chase was at it again as he unleashed a superb drive between mid-off and extra cover for a boundary. Axar Patel came into the attack next as Hope welcomed him by opening the face of the bat and guiding it down to third man for a boundary.
Jasprit Bumrah came into the attack next. Chase shuffled across on the off-side and scooped it away over the keeper for a boundary as he went to 14. Then a big moment came in the match when Chase miscued a Bumrah ball up in the air and Abhishek Sharma dropped a dolly inside the circle at covers as Chase was on 14 and West Indies were on 33 in 4.4 over
Axar Patel continued and bowled the last over of powerplay as Hope spanked it away through point for a boundary. Chase then swept the ball behind square leg as the ball went away to the fence for a boundary. At the end of the powerplay, West Indies were 45/0 in 6 overs with Shai Hope unbeaten on 25 off 25 balls and Chase unbeaten on 20 off 11 balls. West Indies looking good as drinks came in after the end of powerplay.
Varun Chakaravarthy removes Shai Hope; but West Indies looking solid at the halfway mark of the innings.Â
Hardik Pandya came back into the attack after powerplay. Chase smacked Pandya by smashing over midwicket for the maximum. Axar Patel came back into the attack as Chase unleashed a reverse sweep past short third man for a boundary. Varun Chakaravarthy came into the attack next. He struck for India as he removed Hope for 32 off 33 balls with 3 fours and one six to his name.
Varun hurled on a length outside the off-stump at a quicker pace and spun sharply. Hope had opened his shoulders and planted his front leg to the leg side. He missed the ball and the ball crashed into the middle stump. Shimron Hetmyer came out to bat next and got off the mark next.
Hardik came back to bowl the 10th over as Hetmyer whacked him away over midwicket for the maximum. Pandya bowled wides to give runs away for fun and finally the 10th over it ended. At the end of 10 overs, West Indies were well-placed at 82/1 in 10 overs with Chase unbeaten on 38 off 22 balls while Hetmyer was unbeaten on 9 off 5 balls.
What Lies Ahead.Â
So, West Indies in cruise control after losing the toss and have gotten themselves to 82/1 in 10 overs and looks good to go more. With wickets in hand and pitch looking good, West Indies should back themselves to get to 200 from here. India needs wickets as soon as possible to stem the flow of runs. Advantage West Indies for now. India up against it in Kolkata.
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