The power-hitters, when donning the West Indies colours, flattered to deceive once again. For a change though, their bowlers didn’t mess up and rather maintained their lines and lengths, holding their nerves in the closing stages as well to eke out a four-run win over India in the opening T20I at the Brian Lara Stadium at Tarouba on Thursday.

In reply to the Windies’ 149/6, India, with IPL stars in their XI, could manage
only 145/9.

Even though it was a slow pitch, India were on course as Suryakumar Yadav (21) and debutant Tilak Varma (39) gave their reply the move-on after left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein and Obed McCoy removed openers Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan, respectively, inside five overs. But Jason Holder broke the third-wicket stand when he took the prized scalp of Surya before Romario Shepherd got the better of the well-set Varma.

West Indies captain Rovman Powell hits a six during his 32-ball 48 in the first T20I against India at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba on Thursday.

India were still the favourites when captain Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson were at the crease. But with 37 needed off the last five, Holder came back to clean up Pandya with a slower one before a direct throw from Kyle Mayers ran Samson out. That 16th over from Holder, a double-wicket maiden, turned out to be the game-changer for the Windies.

Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh tried to take the game deep, but it was a bit too much to do for them in that situation.

Earlier, the likes of Nicholas Pooran (41) and Rovman Powell (48) got off to starts and were looking solid. But just as their team expected them to go big in the closing overs of the innings, both batters perished much to the relief of the Indians.

Credit though has to be given to spinners Yuzvendra Chahal (2/24 in 3 overs) and Kuldeep Yadav (1/20) for striking in crucial periods as well as stemming the flow of runs on a surface that was on the slower side. With Pooran too falling at a crucial stage off Pandya’s bowling, the hosts’ hopes then relied on Powell.

However, with Powell managing to unleash a few blows, the Windies could somehow go past 140. They would have fallen short though had Chahal not spilled a chance at cover to give Powell an early reprieve.