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Kolkata: Rohit Sharma set up the match for India with an unbeaten 98, and the bowlers struck often and decisively to leave West Indies in tatters to lose by a huge 45-run margin in the ICC World T20 2016 warm-up match at Eden Gardens.
Johnson Charles and Chris Gayle came out to open batting for West Indies, and started off on a positive note. Charles hit Ravichandran Ashwin for two sixes in the first over, while Gayle took on Harbhajan Singh and smoked him for a six in the next over.
Mohammed Shami, bowling for the first time in competitive cricket since his comeback, was then hit for two boundaries by Gayle.
West Indies had raced to 35 for 0 after 3 overs. However, it proved to be the storm before the lull.
Earlier, Rohit scored a tremendous 98 not out to lead India to a challenging 185 for 5. Rohit got excellent support at the start from Shikhar Dhawan and then again in the middle overs from Yuvraj Singh.
Rohit took his time to get going but once he got set he was at his usual brutal self.
There was no toss, with the sides deciding out of mutual consent that India would bat first.
Rohit ahd Dhawan came out to open as usual, and Dhawan took the early initiative. Dhawan hit 21 off 17 balls with 3 fours and 1 six before getting bowled off Suleiman Benn with India on 32 in the fifth over.
Ajinkya Rahane came in at No. 3 in place of Virat Kohli, but could only potter around for a 10-ball 7 with no boundaries. He was Benn’s second victim, stumped by Denesh Ramdin.
India were 56 for 2 in the ninth over at this point. Yuvraj came in at No. 4 and continued his impressive recent run. He too took his time initially, but once he found his groove he hit 3 fours and 1 six to score a 20-ball 31. The duo put on 89 runs in around 8 overs to boost India’s sagging run rate.
Yuvraj hit all his boundaries against Sammy, but ended up holing out to Jerome Taylor off the same bowler. READ: IPL 2016 Schedule: Indian Premier League 9 Full Time Table with Venue & Ground Details
Brief scores:
India - 185 for 5 (Sharma 98*, Yuvraj Singh 31, Benn 2-30)
West Indies - 140 (Negi 2-15, Jadeja 2-26, Pandya 2-25, Shami 2-30)
Result - India won by 45 runs
