West Indies T20I skipper Rovman Powell reckons the five-match T20I series against India will be decided on how their batters bat against spin in the middle overs. The Windies drew first blood in the series as they won the opening T20I by four runs at Trinidad on Thursday.

The home team posted a fighting score of 149 runs on the board after electing to bat first. Rovman Powell top-scored with 48 runs for the hosts and the power-hitter was able to change gears after facing 20 balls.

Powell had scored a run-a-ball 20 but took the attack against the Indian bowlers after a slow start and also got a reprieve from Yuzvendra Chahal. Nicholas Pooran also scored a decent knock of 41 runs off 34 balls and he added 38 runs with his skipper. Pooran was able to hit the ground running against Yuzvendra Chahal but could not add the finishing touches.

In fact, India played with three spinners Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Kuldeep Yadav on a pitch that got slower as the match progressed. The trio conceded 66 runs in the nine overs they bowled collectively and scalped a total of three wickets between themselves.

On the other hand, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals, which led to their downfall in the run-chase. Suryakumar Yadav, debutant Tilak Varma and skipper Hardik Pandya – all got off to starts but none of them could convert it into substantial scores.

Rovman Powell said in the post-match presentation, “It’s a very good feeling. We talked about starting this series on a positive note and the guys did that. It was our game to lose, they didn’t have a set batter and I was confident going into the last over.”

He added, “After watching the Indians bowl, I thought we were a spinner short. We got to utilise what we have and back our skills. It was difficult (to bat). We always knew that the new ball was going to give us runs. This series will be decided on how West Indies batters bat against spin in the middle overs.”

The second T20I between India and the West Indies will be played in Guyana on Sunday.