Bravo’s final-ball heroics seal thrilling one-run win for Windies
India fell two runs short of reaching a target of 246, Dwayne Bravo denying them victory in an engrossing T20 clash in Florida
India fell two runs short of reaching a target of 246, Dwayne Bravo denying them victory in an engrossing T20 clash in Florida

DWAYNE Bravo took a wicket with the final delivery as West Indies clung on to claim a thrilling one-run victory over India in the opening Twenty20 international in Florida yesterday.

Evin Lewis is congratulated after reaching his maiden T20 ton  in Florida, yesterday.
Evin Lewis is congratulated after reaching his maiden T20 ton in Florida, yesterday.

The contest marked the first full-member international game to be played in the United States since 2012, and the spectators in Lauderhill were treated to an engrossing spectacle, with the 489 runs scored, marking the highest aggregate of any T20.
After going for a duck in his international debut back in March, Evin Lewis produced a magnificent 48-ball century in his second match at this level to power the Windies to 245-6.
Despite setting an extremely imposing total, the Windies were left to endure a nervy finish courtesy of Lokesh Rahul’s (110 not out) maiden T20 century, only for Bravo to dismiss India captain MS Dhoni (43) with the last ball.
Johnson Charles (79) and Lewis immediately set about punishing the India attack with a blistering 57-ball partnership of 126.
Charles racked up seven maximums and six fours in his 33-ball blitz, but was outdone by Lewis, with five of his nine sixes conceded by Stuart Binny (0-32) in a devastating 11th over.
Ravindra Jadeja (2-39) ended his wondrous innings but cameos from Kieron Pollard (22) and Carlos Brathwaite (14) pushed the Windies towards 250 and the target of 246 looked well out of reach when Ajinkya Rahane (7) and Virat Kohli (16) fell early.
But Rohit Sharma (62) and Rahul staged a spectacular rebuilding job.
Rohit needed only 22 balls to reach his 50 but saw his charge ended by Pollard (1-30). However, there was no stopping Rahul – who made sure the Windies paid the price for dropping him in the ninth over and brought up his 100 in the best possible fashion by carving a six over third man.
India went into the final over needing just eight runs but were stymied by the brilliant Bravo, whose display of death bowling ensured they still required two off the last delivery.
And Dhoni promptly sliced the final ball to short third man, sparking wild celebrations among a Windies team that now holds a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

(Omnisport)

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