On This Day — India Edge Out West Indies by 3 Runs in Thriller at Port of Spain

It turned out to be a nail-biting encounter, with India managing to win by just 3 runs. Led by Shikhar Dhawan, who also scored a brilliant 97, the Indian team held their nerves in the final moments to take a 1-0 lead in the series. It was a thrilling match filled with big hits, tight bowling, and last-over drama. Let’s take a look at how it all unfolded.

India vs West Indies: 22nd July 2022 at Port of Spain

Starting with the India innings, what a show they put on at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain! They racked up 308/7 in their 50 overs, setting a tough target for the West Indies. Shikhar Dhawan, the stand-in captain, was the star, just missing out on a century with 97 runs off 99 balls. He smashed 10 fours and 3 sixes, looking calm and classy as he anchored the innings. The pitch had a bit of bounce, but Dhawan handled it like a pro, flicking balls off his pads and driving through the covers with ease.

Opening with him was Shubman Gill, who played with a spark, scoring 64 off 53 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes. Those two were on fire early on, putting on 119 runs for the first wicket. They got India to 50 in just 6.5 overs, taking advantage of some loose bowling from Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales. Gill was especially aggressive, lofting a couple of gorgeous cover drives that had the crowd buzzing.

The partnership was a perfect mix as Dhawan played the steady senior, while Gill went after anything wide or short. Their 100-run stand came in 84 balls, with Gill racing to his fifty in 36 balls. But a mix-up in the 17th over saw Gill run out after a sharp throw from Nicholas Pooran, such a heartbreaker! Shreyas Iyer stepped in and kept the runs flowing, scoring 54 off 57 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. He and Dhawan added 94 runs for the second wicket, pushing India past 200 by the 31st over.

Iyer looked solid, picking gaps and hitting a couple of big shots, but he got out to Gudakesh Motie, caught by Pooran, just when he seemed set for more. After Dhawan fell to Motie, caught by Shamarh Brooks for 97, India wobbled a bit. Suryakumar Yadav tried to keep the momentum with a quick 13 off 14 balls, but Akeal Hosein bowled him with a beauty that spun back in. Sanju Samson, behind the stumps, couldn’t get going, scratching around for 12 off 18 balls before Romario Shepherd got him lbw.

A review didn’t help Samson as it was the umpire’s call, and he had to walk. Deepak Hooda chipped in with 27 off 32 balls, rotating the strike and smacking a six to keep the scoreboard moving. Axar Patel added a quick 21 off 21 balls, but both he and Hooda fell to Joseph’s pace in the death overs. Shardul Thakur (7 not out) and Mohammed Siraj (1 not out) made sure India used all 50 overs, adding 60 runs in the last 10 to finish strong.

West Indies’ bowlers had a tough day. Joseph was the best, grabbing 2/61, getting Hooda and Patel with some clever bowling. Motie also took 2/54, dismissing Dhawan and Iyer, while Hosein and Shepherd picked up one each. Seales struggled, going for 54 without a wicket, and Kyle Mayers’ two overs cost 17 runs. Pooran tried bowling a couple of overs, but they went for 23. The fielding wasn’t great either as 12 extras, including 6 wides, didn’t help. India’s batting was a team effort, with three guys crossing 50 and partnerships keeping the pressure on.

The powerplay gave them 73 runs, the middle overs were steady, and the final push got them to a challenging 309. Switching to the West Indies innings, they gave it everything but fell just short, finishing at 305/6 in 50 overs and 3 runs shy in a game that had everyone on edge. It started badly when Shai Hope got out for 7, nicking Mohammed Siraj to Shardul Thakur in the fifth over.

But Kyle Mayers came out swinging, blasting 75 off 68 balls with 10 fours and 1 six. He took on Prasidh Krishna and Siraj, hitting boundaries like it was a T20 game. Shamarh Brooks played the perfect foil, scoring 46 off 61 balls, and their 117-run stand for the second wicket got West Indies back in the hunt. Mayers reached his fifty in 42 balls, and by the 18th over, they were at 100, looking like they could chase this down.

The crowd was loud, cheering every boundary as Mayers and Brooks kept the run rate close. Things got tricky when Brooks was caught by Shreyas Iyer off Thakur, and Mayers followed soon after, caught by Sanju Samson. At 138/3 in the 26th over, West Indies needed someone to step up. Brandon King answered the call, playing a composed 54 off 66 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. He and captain Nicholas Pooran, who made 25 off 26 balls, added 51 runs to steady the ship.

But Pooran’s exit, caught off Siraj, and Rovman Powell’s quick 6 off 7 balls left them at 196/5 in the 37th over. It looked like India had it in the bag, but Akeal Hosein (32 not out off 32 balls) and Romario Shepherd (39 not out off 25 balls) had other ideas. Their 53-run unbroken stand for the seventh wicket was pure drama, with Shepherd smashing 3 fours and 2 sixes to keep West Indies alive.

The last two overs were wild. In the 49th over, Prasidh Krishna bowled, and Shepherd hammered a six over long-on and edged a four, bringing the target down to 15 off the final over. A not-out review saved Shepherd from a caught-behind call, talk about tension! Then came Siraj’s final over. Shepherd kept swinging, getting a four off an inside edge and running twos like a sprinter.

A wide and a leg bye added to the chaos, but with 6 needed off the last ball, Siraj nailed a yorker. Shepherd could only manage a bye, and India won by 3 runs. Siraj (2/57) and Thakur (2/54) were the pick of the bowlers, with Yuzvendra Chahal grabbing 2/58. Krishna was tight but didn’t get a wicket, while Axar Patel and Deepak Hooda bowled smartly in the middle. West Indies’ chase was a rollercoaster as Mayers set the tone, King held it together, and Hosein and Shepherd nearly pulled off a miracle.

The powerplay gave them 52 runs for one wicket, and the middle overs kept them in the game. The last 10 overs saw 86 runs, but India’s bowlers, especially Siraj, stayed cool under pressure. The fielding was sharp, with Iyer and Hooda taking big catches. Shikhar Dhawan got Player of the Match for his 97, and India took a 1-0 lead in a match that was a proper thriller.