Despite a 100-run fourth-wicket partnership between Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell, the West Indies lost the second T20 International against India by eight runs at Eden Gardens on Friday. The loss means India takes an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Powell hit four fours and five sixes in his unbeaten 68 from 36 balls and Pooran 62 that included five fours and three sixes from 42 balls in a partnership of 101 runs that ended midway the 19th over when Pooran was dismissed going for a bit hit with the West Indies still 27 runs from their target.
The pair came together after coming together with the score at 59-2 with Brandon King (22) and Kyle Mayers (9) back in the hutch after 8.3 overs.
Needing 25 from the last over, Powell gave the West Indies hope with consecutive sixes off Harshal Patel to leave the West Indies needing 11 from the final two deliveries. However, those deliveries yielded just two runs and the West Indies were short of their target.
The West Indies won the toss and sent India to bat. Their bowlers restricted India to 72-3 inside in the 10th over. Sheldon Cottrell dismissed Ishan Kishan for 2 before Roston Chase removed Rohit Sharma for 19, Suryakumar Yadav for eight and the dangerous Virat Kohli for 52 as India rushed to 106-4.
A 76-run partnership between Player of the Match Risbah Pant, 52 not out from 28 balls and Venkatesh Iyer (33) then powered India to their total of 186-5.
Chase finished with figures of 3-25 but the other bowlers let the West Indies down. Jason Holder conceded 45 from his four overs, including 14 from his last over, while Sheldon Cottrell who had only given up five runs from his first two overs, conceded 15 in his third and final over for figures of 1-20.
Pollard’s only over yielded 14 runs.