36 overs India 225 for 3 for (Gill 98*, Iyer 44, Walsh 2-57) vs West Indies
It was an innings of two halves from India: the primary 24 overs produced 115 runs; the following 12 fetched 110. Shubman Gill missed out on what would have been his maiden ODI hundred, as a second rain interruption left him on 98*, with India’s innings being referred to as closed at 225 after 36 overs.
With the DLS-revised goal coming into play, West Indies must chase 257 searching for a comfort win.
By the time rain interfered once more, a two-and-a-half lengthy delay had already taken away ten overs from the innings; and when play resumed with what would have been 16 overs remaining, Gill and Shreyas Iyer switched gears to speed up India’s automobile earlier than one other 4 overs have been shaved off.
Both batters threw all the things on the bowling after having to regulate for the lack of overs – they got here down the pitch to spinners, tried the reverse sweep, performed aerial pictures whether or not whereas pulling or driving, and stored lofting over the in discipline – after a quiet begin by Gill and his opening companion Shikhar Dhawan.
Gill and Iyer added 86 for the second wicket in lower than ten overs, making up for the sedate starting after Dhawan opted to bat on successful the toss. The first two overs after the rain break noticed 31 runs being plundered – together with 4 fours and two sixes – as they pulled, lower and drove for enjoyable. Their partnership had solely simply began earlier than rain broke by means of.
But Hayden Walsh Jr’s second ball after the break was swung for six over deep sq. leg by Iyer, signalling India’s intents early, as fast runs have been the necessity of the hour. The subsequent ball was bisected for 4 between level and quick third, earlier than Gill skipped down off the ultimate supply and swung over the bowler’s head for six.
West Indies introduced some tempo from the opposite finish, just for Iyer to hit one 4 off Jayden Seales, and Gill to slam consecutive fours – the primary of which was supreme timing to position the ball previous mid-off – as India raced alongside.
Both batters continued discovering the boundary when the hosts switched to Jason Holder and Akeal Hosein, earlier than Iyer swatted the latter to lengthy-on for 44 off 34 balls. But Gill stored ticking the scoreboard on the different finish, as Suryakumar Yadav joined him in pursuit of fast runs.
Suryakumar fell for 8 after carving one 4 behind level simply two overs earlier than play got here to a halt, with Gill having skipped from 51 off 65 balls at one stage, to an unbeaten, run-a-ball 98. He may rue lacking out on a century, however he obtained solely 13 off his final 14 balls – maybe only one extra ball would have been sufficient to get to triple figures.
Himanshu Agrawal is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo