India spinners bulldoze West Indies in final T20I to clinch series 4-1

…Hetmyer returns to form with fine 50

By Brandon Corlette in Florida

India spinners claimed all ten wickets in the final T20I at the Broward County Stadium in Florida, USA as West Indies lost by 88 runs. India posted 188-7 in 20 overs riding on Shreyas Iyer’s classy half-century while Shimron Hetmyer’s 56 was the only bright spark for West Indies, who folded for 100 all out in 15.4 overs as the mighty Indians took the series 4-1.

India spinners dominate West Indies
Jason Holder was shockingly promoted to open the batting with Shamarh Brooks. West Indies were in early trouble, losing three wickets for 38 runs in the power play. Holder was bowled by Axar Patel attempting to sweep, Brooks ran past one and Thomas played back and was bowled by the same bowler.

Batting at number four, Hetmyer came and hit the power button immediately. He struck boundaries and looked a class apart from his teammates. Kuldeep Yadav then trapped Nicholas Pooran (03) in front at 50-4 in 7.5 overs and India were in firm control.

Rovman Powell continued to find it difficult to score at his free flowing best. The lower-middle order also looked clueless as all ten of West Indies wickets went to spinners. Patel, who claimed three early wickets and also bowled a maiden, ended with 3-15 to earn the player of the match award. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who finished off the match, had 4-16 in 2.4 overs.

Hetmyer reached his fastest T20I fifty in 28 balls, an innings that included four sixes and five fours. He was eventually caught at long-off by Iyer off Bishnoi, and that was all she wrote for West Indies.

Iyer shows class
Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bat first. India rested some big guns and Hardik Pandya returned to lead the team in the absence of Rohit Sharma. West Indies made four changes, with Keemo Paul, Shamarh Brooks, Hayden Walsh and Odean Smith returning while Kyle Mayers, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph and Brandon King missed out.

India got off to a blazing start despite losing the wicket of Ishan Kishan (11) at 38-1 in 4.3 overs. It was Dominic Drakes who removed the southpaw. India kept pressing on and at the power play, and raced away to 53-1 with Iyer and Hooda dominating the bowling in good batting conditions.
Iyer reached his half-century with some innovative and breathtaking shots. At the half-way stage, India reached 95-1, eyeing up a total beyond 200 runs. According to Pooran, Walsh was not included in the starting XI in St Kitts because of the small outfield. He came and removed the promising Deepak Hooda at 114-2 in 11.4 overs. Hooda made 38 from 25 balls, but was caught at mid-wicket after striking three fours and two sixes.
India continued to score but the quick Smith stood in their way to claim wickets. Holder removed the danger man Iyer for 64, who offered a simple return catch after slamming eight fours and two sixes in his 40-ball knock.
At 135-3 after 14.3 overs, the players left the field with lightning around the venue, despite the sun peeking out. Upon the return, captain Pandya (28) looked to threaten as well as the finisher Dinesh Karthik (12). Smith who sent the stumps of Sanju Samson for a walk in the park, pulled India back to 188-7 in 20 overs. Smith, ended with 3-33 in four overs.
West Indies will now shift focus to the New Zealand T20I three-match series starting on August 10 in Jamaica.