Pooran steers West Indies to 181-3 in third India T20

Pooran, who made 53 off 25 deliveries, put on a key 87-run unbeaten stand with Darren Bravo, who made 43, to give the tourists a competitive total in the third T20 in Chennai.

By AFP

November 11, 2018

Chennai, India: Nicholas Pooran smashed his maiden Twenty20 international half-century to guide West Indies to 181 for three in their bid for a consolation win against India on Sunday.

Pooran, who made 53 off 25 deliveries, put on a key 87-run unbeaten stand with Darren Bravo, who made 43, to give the tourists a competitive total in the third T20 in Chennai.

The Carlos Brathwaite-led side, which has already lost the series after trailing 0-2, won the toss and elected to bat first.

The left-handed Pooran, who is playing just his fifth match, came in to bat with West Indies in a bit of trouble at 94-3 but took the attack to the opposition bowlers.

He hit four fours and fours sixes during his blitz, with Hope at the other end playing a calculated 37-ball knock.

Openers Shai Hope, who made 24, and Shimron Hetmyer, who hit 26, gave the West Indies a strong start with their 51-run partnership before Yuzvendra Chahal struck back for the hosts.

Chahal got Hope on his very first delivery and then cut short Hetmyer´s brisk knock to check the opposition surge. The leg-spinner returned figures of 2-28.

But Pooran and Bravo ensured their team get 64 runs in the last five overs as they hit the bowlers to all parts of the ground.

Cricket: India v West Indies third T20 scoreboard

West Indies

S. Hope c Sundar b Chahal 24

S. Hetmyer c Pandya b Chahal 26

D. Bravo not out 43

D. Ramdin b Sundar 15

N. Pooran not out 53

Extras (lb4, w16) 20

Total (3 wickets, 20 overs) 181

Did not bat: K. Pollard, C. Brathwaite, F. Allen, K. Paul, K. Pierre, O. Thomas

Fall of wickets: 1-51 (Hope), 2-62 (Hetmyer), 3-94 (Ramdin)