Ranchi: Sanju Samson smashed a 41-ball 82 as India posted a massive 249/5 against West Indies in the second T20I of the five-match series at the JSCA International Stadium on Friday, with Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma also making significant contributions.
West Indies skipper Shai Hope chose to bowl after winning the toss, but India’s batters dominated the innings with an aggressive approach, maintaining a scoring rate of more than 12 runs per over.
Abhishek Sharma provided a brisk start with 20 off 12 balls before falling in the fourth over. Samson then took control, reaching his half-century in just 21 deliveries and striking nine fours and four sixes during his innings.
Kishan kept the pressure on the visitors, scoring 43 from 22 balls with six boundaries and two sixes. Their 97-run stand off 43 deliveries for the second wicket helped India cross the 100-run mark in the ninth over.
Roston Chase briefly checked India’s progress by dismissing Kishan and Shivam Dube, who managed seven runs off 10 balls. Chase finished as West Indies’ most successful bowler with figures of 3/24 from four overs.
Springer then removed Samson in the 15th over, but India maintained the momentum through Iyer and Varma. The pair attacked Springer in the 18th over, collecting 21 runs to take India to 215/4 after 18 overs.
After Shamar Joseph conceded 11 runs in the penultimate over, Varma launched a decisive assault in the final over, hitting three successive sixes off Springer. Iyer fell during the over, but Naman Dhir struck a boundary from the last ball to help India finish at 249/5.
Springer claimed two wickets but proved expensive, conceding 64 runs in his four overs, while Chase was the only other West Indies bowler to take wickets.
West Indies now need 250 runs to win the contest and level the five-match series.
