Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal scored sizzling half centuries as India defeated West Indies by nine wickets in the fourth T20 international in Lauderhill, Florida on Saturday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Kyle Mayers got West Indies off to a quickfire start by taking on Axar Patel for a six and a four in the very first over.
However Arshdeep Singh drew first blood by dismissing Mayers, who fell to a excellent catch by wicket keeper Sanju Samson for 17. The pair of Brandon King and Shai Hope added 35 runs for the second wicket stand before the former fell to a brilliant diving catch by Kuldeep Yadav at short third man off Arshdeep for 18.
Kuldeep then pegged the hosts back by dismissing both Nicholas Pooran (1) and skipper Rovman Powell (1), leaving them in a spot of bother at 57/4.
The pair of Shai Hope along with Shimron Hetmyer resurrected the innings with a solid 49 run stand for the fifth wicket before the former holed out to Axar Patel at long on while trying to take on Axar Patel for 45.
Romario Shepherd then miscued a slog off Axar to Sanju Samson for 9. Mukesh Kumar then knocked over Jason Holder for 3. Left hander Hetmyer provided a late flourish by scoring a swashbuckling 39 ball- 61, before falling to a brilliant running catch by Tilak Varma off Arshdeep.
All rounder Odean Smith scored an unbeaten 15 to take West Indies to 178/8 in their 20 overs.
In response, Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill got their side off to a magnificent start. The duo added 165 runs for the opening stand before the latter fell while attempting an uppish flick off Romario Shepherd for 77.
Jaiswal (84)* along with young Tilak Varma (7)* completed the formalities as the Men in Blue overhauled the target of 179 with 3 overs to spare.
India 179 for 1 (Jaiswal 84*, Gill 77) beat West Indies 178 for 8 (Hetmyer 61, Hope 45, Arshdeep 3-38, Kuldeep 2-26) by nine wickets