Kirk Edwards

Chasing a competitive score of 169 for 7 from Bangladesh, the West Indies got off to a flyer with William Perkins and Ridley Jacobs racing to 29 in 16 balls when Perkins was dismissed for 22 having faced 14 balls.

His dismissal brought Dwayne Smith to the crease but after looking threatening hitting two fours in the first four balls he faced, was bowled by Abdur Razzak for 10 with the score on 41.

He was replaced by Edwards, who together with Ridley Jacobs, mounted a 72-run third-wicket partnership in just 43 balls. Edwards was particularly savage on the Bangladesh bowlers smashing six fours and two sixes in his 28-ball stay at the crease before he, too, was bowled by Razzak.

Twelve runs later, Jacobs was run out for 34 on the last ball of the 14^th over with the West Indies still needing 45 runs from 36 balls.

Tino Best came and went, bowled for five by Mohammad Rafique. Meanwhile, Brian Lara, who took some time to get going, hit three fours in his unbeaten 31. He and Mahendra Nagamootoo, who hit two fours in his 16 not out from 10 balls, got the West Indies across the line at 173 for 5 with seven balls to spare.

Razzak took 2-34.

After being sent to bat by the West Indies, Nazimuddin and Mehrab Hossain took full advantage smashing the West Indies bowling to all parts, scoring 64 at better than eight runs an over. It took a run out from the last ball of the eighth over to end the partnership, Nazimuddin coming up short of the crease after smashing three fours and two sixes in his 24-ball 33.

Hossain and Aftab Ahmed added 27 for the second wicket when Tino Best had the latter caught behind for 31 mid-way the 15^th over. He hit four fours and a six in his 21-ball stay. Four balls later, Ryan Austin bowled Hossain for 44 and then trapped Razzak lbw for a duck.

Bangladesh kept the scoring rate up thanks to Mohammed Sharif, who hit three sixes on his way to 26 from just 13 balls. He was eventually dismissed by Suilemann Benn, who also removed Khaled Mashud and Mohammad Rafique to finish with 3-17. Austin paid a high price for his two wickets, conceding 42 runs from his four overs.

Best had figures of 1-33.

The Kings won the toss and chose to field first, quickly regretting that decision when the Capitals got off to a magnificent start with the bat.

After losing South African Hashim Amla early for 3, former India opener Gautam Gambhir and former West Indies batsman Kirk Edwards put on 107 for the second wicket before Gambhir fell for a 35-ball 63 in the 11^th over.

Edwards went on to make the next highest score in the innings with 59 off 31 balls while Ben Dunk (37) and Ashley Nurse (34) also made solid contributions as the Capitals got what they thought would be a match-winning total of 228-8 off their 20 overs.

Anureet Singh took 4-29 from his four overs for the Kings.

Bhilwara’s opening pair of Lendl Simmons and Solomon Mire then put on only 22 for the first wicket before Simmons was first to go for 11.

It was quickly 27-2 when Tillakaratne Dilshan went for just one.

Mire and new batsman Robin Bist then put on 67 for the third wicket before Bist went in the 11^th over for 30 leaving the Kings 94-3.

Mire was next to go, 40 runs and three overs later for a well-made top score of 70 from 40 balls including nine fours and three sixes.

Eventually, the Kings were 186-7 in the 18^th over before captain Irfan Pathan performed a miracle to help them get over the line at 229-7 in 19.2 overs.

Pathan made 65* off just 19 balls including one four and nine sixes.

Isuru Udana took 3-51 from his four overs for the Capitals.

Full Scores

India Capitals 228-8 off 20 overs (Gautam Gambhir 65, Kirk Edwards 59, Ben Funk 37, Ashley Nurse 34, Anureet Singh 4-29)

Bhilwara Kings 229-7 off 19.2 overs (Solomon Mire 70, Irfan Pathan 65*, Robin Bist 30, Christopher Barnwell 22, Isuru Udana 3-51, Rusty Theron 2-33)