Chasing 179, India romped home in 17 overs as openers Jaiswal and Gill looked in no trouble at all. Jaiswal hammered 11 fours and three sixes in his maiden T20I fifty, playing in only his second match in the format for India. Gill was equally impressive, striking three fours and five sixes.
Jaiswal hit the first ball of the innings from Obed McCoy for four. It was a sign of things to come as India raced to 66/0 at the end of the powerplay and subsequently to 100/0 after 10 overs. Gill brought up his trademark short-arm jab, sending the ball over the ropes more than once, while Jaiswal also reverse-swept one for a maximum.
At one point, it seemed that India would complete a 10-wicket rout of West Indies. But that wasn’t to be as Gill was out to Romario Shepherd as he looked to go for a flick, but did not keep the ball down. Tilak Varma came and completed the formalities with Jaiswal.
Earlier, batting first, Shimron Hetmyer clubbed 61 off 39 balls, with the help of three fours and four sixes, as West Indies put up 178/8 on the board. Batting first after winning the toss, the hosts lost Kyle Mayers for 17 as Arshdeep Singh bounced him out with a sharp delivery.
The Indian left-arm pacer also dismissed Brandon King for 18 as the batter was caught at short third man by a diving Kuldeep Yadav. Next, it was Kuldeep’s turn to shine with the ball. With his first delivery, he dismissed Nicholas Pooran (1). For the second game in the row, the West Indies batter perished trying to take on the left-arm wrist-spinner, this time miscuing one to long-on.
West Indies captain Rovman Powell (1) fell in the same over as he edged a googly to slip. Shai Hope and Hetmyer lifted the hosts with a fifth wicket stand of 49. Hope fell for an impressive 45 off 29 balls, holing out to Yuzvendra Chahal. Axar dismissed Shepherd for 9, while Mukesh Kumar bowled Jason Holder for 3 as India kept chipping away.
Hetmyer, however, struck Kumar, Kuldeep and Arshdeep for sixes at the death to push West Indies towards 180. In the end, their total proved way too inadequate.
--By A Cricket Correspondent
