Who Said What: World reacts as West Indies beat India by 1 run in first T20I
USA’s first tryst with T20I action between India and West Indies was a thriller that was eventually won by the Windies by one run in Florida. Two centuries and two fifties were scored in a game which saw nearly 500 runs scored and end in the final ball of the contest.
Although India won the toss and elected to field, it would have been the Windies who would have been happy with their efforts as the openers added a century partnership for the opening wicket and went on to finish with 246 thanks to a century by Evin Lewis and fifty from Johnson Charles.
In response, despite losing the chase master Virat Kohli early, fifty from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul’s maiden T20I century and a cameo from MS Dhoni left India with eight to win off the final over. That equation came down to two off one ball but Dwayne Bravo kept his nerve and dismissed the Indian skipper to help his side take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Bravo reveals what he wanted to do
On his plans for the final over, Dwayne Bravo said: "With nine runs to go, I said we didn't have anything to lose. I'd like to test my skills in these kinds of situations. We know what MS can do. He can finish off the game with one hit. I wanted to ensure the first ball didn't go for a boundary.
“I wanted to keep my composure and back my skills with the two balls: the slower one and the yorker. We wanted to keep midwicket in to prevent him from just hitting it towards that region. I was a touch apprehensive to bowl the slower delivery, but then I saw MS walking across and so bowled it and it worked out.”
West Indies captain Carlos Brathwaite said: “ When Bravo said he was bowling a slower ball at the end, I told him that he had my backing. But in my mind I was thinking 'really?'. Yeah, Bravo is a champion. He always steps up. Never shies away from the challenge. We never do things easy, but we held our nerve. It was a great game of cricket.”
The Windies skipper heaped praise on the curator and the support from the crowd. “Kudos to the curator for preparing such a wicket. Even the outfield is brilliant as well. Lewis was told at the last moment that he was in the team. It was a tremendous effort. If we talk about criticism myself and the lower order did not finish the game. We could have got to 250-60 Thanks to the USA for support. We couldn't quite tell who was the home team,” he said.
Indian captain MS Dhoni admitted the batting line-up did all they could. “It was an amazing game,” he said. “We couldn't have expected more from the batting unit. The last ball, the thinking was right but the execution was wrong. Everything is judged by execution. We did most things right.
“Whenever there was a partnership, we kept the asking rate at just 12. I felt Rahul was outstanding throughout. The others too were superb because it's not always easy to chase down 250. A win would have been perfect, but there were so many things we did right today.”
Here is the reaction from the cricket fraternity:
Plenty of praise came KL Rahul's way Virender Sehwag:
Wow @klrahul11 last 3 100's ,one each in in ODI, test, T20 all completed with a six.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 27, 2016
Dabanng#IndvsWI
Michael Vaughan:
Wow .. This KL Rahul looks some player .. 20 innings in international cricket and already an ODI 100,Test 100 and now an T20 100..
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 27, 2016
Irfan Pathan:
Hum Bahot Kareeb the Jeet ke, koi na yaaro, Agli game.. well done Rahul what shots n Rohit too #T20
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 27, 2016
Scott Styris:
What a match that was!! If cricket doesn't have 10mil new fans in the USA after that game we never will! #rahulvslewis #IndvsWI
— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) August 27, 2016
Robin Uthappa:
Can't believe that just happened!! Gutted for @klrahul11. What a knock bud!! Amazing stuff @ImRo45. We'll get em in the next one!
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) August 27, 2016
Sachin Tendulkar:
What a great showcase of T-20 in the USA & beyond! Well played both teams. Exceptional batting @klrahul11 & well fought @msdhoni led boys!
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 27, 2016
Ravichandran Ashwin:
What a game of cricket!!Florida fireworks private limited.
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) August 27, 2016
Yusuf Pathan:
Full-on entertaining innings from both Evin Lewis & KL Rahul. Well played both the teams #INDvWI
— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) August 27, 2016
VVS Laxman:
What an amazing game of cricket.Was a gr8 advertisement for T20 cricket in the USA.Gr8 2 see the way 2 youngsters Lewis & @klrahul11 batted
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 27, 2016
Yuvraj Singh:
What a game @ManUtd @WayneRooney you legend ! Congratulations to @klrahul11 on magnificent 100 unlucky not to win !
— yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) August 27, 2016
Darren Sammy:
Whewwwwww what a game of cricket.every inch of @DJBravo47 #T20 Experience was used in that last over... well done @westindies #champion
— Daren Sammy (@darrensammy88) August 27, 2016
Virender Sehwag:
Yeh T20 ka khel hai,
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 27, 2016
Yahan sab prediction fail hai.#1Run#IndvsWI
Dean Jones:
My god what a game for USA to remember .. 480 runs in a cliff hanger in Miami.. #greatgameofcricket #IndvsWI @StarSportsIndia
— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) August 27, 2016
Ian Bishop:
Only over that didn't have a boundary in it when the West Indies bowled was Bravo's last over. #champion. Gr8 game of cricket in Florida.
— ian bishop (@irbishi) August 27, 2016
Hashim Amla:
50 over score line in a t20 game! Man..Poo got real #IndvsWI
— hashim amla (@amlahash) August 27, 2016
Not everyone was pleased with the amount of runs that was scored, Murali Kartik:
Are we going to see a day when 300 runs are going to be scored in 20 overs.We aren't far off wen 2 bowling machines at either ends will bowl
— Kartik Murali (@kartikmurali) August 27, 2016