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KL Rahul, Virat Kohli slay West Indies as India win first T20I by 6 wickets

WION Web Team
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaUpdated: Dec 06, 2019, 10:53 PM IST
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Indian captain Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. Photograph:(AFP)

Story highlights

Kohli remained unbeaten on 94 hitting six boundaries and an equal number of sixes in just 50 balls take India home as the hosts chased 207 for victory.

Opener KL Rahul and Indian captain Virat Kohli shared a century partnership as India beat West Indies by six wickets with 8 balls to spare in the first T20 International in Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi stadium.

Kohli remained unbeaten on 94 hitting six boundaries and an equal number of sixes in just 50 balls take India home as the hosts chased 207 for victory.

Opener KL Rahul provided the momentum earlier in the innings even as Rohit Sharma fell early to Pierre for just 8 as India lost their first wicket on 30. Thereafter it was a Rahul-Kohli show with West Indian bowlers unable to stem the flow of runs.

Rahul looked in immaculate form to take the lead scoring all round the wicket. The Indian opener hit five boundaries and four sixes in his 40-ball stay at the crease to take the game away from the visitors.

Wicketkeeper Rishab Pant provided the final flourish hitting two sixes as the Indian captain hit a six to finish off the game.

Earlier, West Indies surged to 207/5 after Virat Kohli won the toss and put West Indies in to bat.

The West Indies batters were severe on offie Washington Sundar who gave away 34 runs in a 3-over spell claiming the wicket of Lewis who fell after scoring 40 in just 17 balls which included 3 sixes and four hits to the boundary.

Shimron Hetmyer played the lead role in his 41-ball stay at the crease hitting two boundaries and four sixes before falling to Chahal's guile for 56. Hetmyer fell in the 18th over after West Indies reached 172 for the loss of four wickets as the Indian bowling attack wilted.

Pollard came good in the latter half of the innings hitting a quickfire 37 in just 19 balls with one boundary and four sixes and was ably supported by Holder who scored 24 in 9 balls with one boundary and two sixes.

Medium pacer Deepak Chahar had a tough day in the office as the West Indies batsman feasted on his bowling as he gave away 56 in four overs.

Jadeja and Chahal kept a lid on the batsman picking up three wickets between them giving away 66 runs in their allotted 8 overs but West Indies batsmen managed to still cross the 200-run mark.

The visitor finished the last over ripping apart medium pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar who conceded 17 runs giving away a six and boundary as captain Virat Kohli dropped a sharp, running catch which eventually rolled over the boundary line.