Abhishek’s blitz, Arshdeep’s strikes help India beat West Indies by 14 runs in Indore, take 2-1 lead in T20I series

India won by 14 runs (Image: BCCI) INDORE: A brilliant bowling display by India on a flat pitch with shorter boundaries at the Holkar Stadium steered them to a 14-run win over West Indies to give them a 2-1 series lead on Sunday.With the dew not coming into play in the third T20I, the Indian bowlers showcased their mettle as the bat-ball contest was even. They were on the money for the most part, executing their plans perfectly and not flinching when the West Indies batsmen threatened to take the game away. In the end, the visitors were restricted to 209/7 while chasing a target of 224.It started from the front as Mayank Yadav (0/34) bowled all his deliveries above 145km/h, rushing the batsmen and conceding just two runs in his opening over. In the next over, West Indies skipper Shai Hope (5, 5b; 1×4) tried to push the pace but was cleaned up by Arshdeep Singh (3/44).West Indies then settled into a nice rhythm. They didn’t score at the rate that India managed in the power play, but they did enough to stay within the required rate. Their charge was led by Shimron Hetmyer (43, 26b; 6×4, 2×6) who took charge of the Indian bowlers. The left-hander had just taken 10 runs off two balls in the seventh over from Naman Dhir (2/39), but on the very next delivery he bowled a quicker flat track ball that slid and rattled the stumps.The dismissal stopped the visitors’ scoring and they needed regular boundaries to stay in touch with the chase. Looking to get going, Rovman Powell (5, 7b) tried to force the issue but could only hit an Axar Patel (1/33) delivery straight down Ishan Kishan’s neck at deep mid-wicket. In the next over, Kamil Pooran (42, 27b; 3×4, 3×6) hit Dhira for three sixes before the Punjab all-rounder had him caught in the deep.India then bowled a series of tight overs through Prince Yadav (0/37), Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/19) and Arshdeep to push the required rate up to 15 overs. The visitors gave it their all, but the goal proved too steep in the end.Earlier, India were bowled out for 223 and owed much to the 108-run second-wicket partnership between Abhishek Sharma (69, 30b; 6×4, 5×6) and Ishan Kishan (37 18b; 6×4, 1×6) that produced just 40 deliveries beyond the 200 total.India wasn’t sure if the dew would come into play and couldn’t afford to take their foot off the pedal. However, trying to keep the score as high as possible, they lost their way through the middle overs. Perhaps the memories of West Indies chasing 250 in the previous game weighed heavily on their minds after they were put in to bat.India managed just seven runs in the first two overs, Sanju Samson (3, 6b) already back in the pavilion. But the floodgates opened after that as they added 80 runs in the next four overs to finish the Powerplay at 87/1. At one stage they were 115/1 after 8.1 overs with Abhishek and Ishan sending the West Indies bowlers all over the park.Then came the twist that knocked the wind out of the Indian innings. The visitors tightened the screws and took four wickets in the space of 16 balls to claw their way back into the contest.As in the previous match, Roston Chase (2/38) used his cricketing urgency to spark a fightback with two wickets in the ninth over. He had Kishan stumped first, a ball after hitting him for a six to end the 108-run partnership. Two deliveries later, the off-spinner trapped skipper Shreyas Iyer lbw as the Indian skipper struggled to maintain a quick score.Five balls later it was Abhishek’s turn to depart after the left-hander skipped a short delivery from Shamar Springer (2/50). Naman Dhir (10, 5b; 1×4, 1×6) looked promising and dropped Gudakesh Motie (1/37) over mid-on for six, but the left-arm spinner had the last laugh two balls later when the right-hander fired outside at long-on.India were suddenly reduced to 135/5 after 10.5 overs. The batsmen who followed made starts but failed to convert them into substantial contributions.