West Indies skipper Rovman Powell admitted they were 10-15 runs short and didn’t stick to their plans with the ball after their nine-wicket loss against India in the fourth T20I of the series at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Florida on Saturday.
West Indies posted a decent total of 178-8 in their 20 overs after Powell won the toss and decided to bat first. In fact, the Windies could not get a good start as they were tottering at 57-4 after 6.5 overs.
The in-form Nicholas Pooran was dismissed for a solitary run by Kuldeep Yadav however Shimron Hetmyer played a blistering knock of 61 runs off just 39 balls whereas Shai Hope contributed with 45 to help the home team get close to the 180-run mark.
But the hosts’ bowlers could not create any sort of pressure with the ball as Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 165 runs for the opening alliance. The two youngsters batted at the top of their game and added 66 runs in the Powerplay overs to put the opposition under pressure.
Jaiswal, playing only his second T20I, scored an unbeaten knock of 84 runs off just 51 balls whereas Gill also returned back to form to score 77 from 47 balls.
Barring Akeal Hosein and Jason Holder, all the West Indies bowlers were taken to the cleaners by the Indian openers as they conceded more than 10 runs/over.
Rovman Powell said in the post-match presentation, “It’s a pretty good batting surface. We were maybe 10-15 runs short. Having said that, Hetmyer and Hope played well. There’s quality bowling in our unit. We didn’t stick to our plans, you’ll always find under pressure against quality batters.”
He added, “From the start of the series, we always knew it’s gonna come down to how we bat against spin. We didn’t bat well in the middle overs. If we can improve against spin, then we’ll do well. It’s 2-2, both teams have played well to reach where they are. Tomorrow is the final and in the final, I’d back West Indies. I am feeling okay and ready to lead the guys again tomorrow.”
The fifth and deciding T20I of the series will be played at the same venue of Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida on Sunday.
