Cricket News

‘Exhilarating battle’ – Twitter abuzz as first ODI between West Indies and India turns out to be a last-ball thriller

The limited-overs series between West Indies and India kicked off in Trinidad at the Queens Park Oval. The tone was set early on by the openers with some cautious batting by Shikhar Dhawan upfront. Shubman Gill was in red hot form as he took on the West Indies bowlers and dominated right from the word go. He was in fine tough and was looking good for a big score. However, Gill was unfortunately run out on 64 due to a sharp throw by Nicholas Pooran.

Shikhar was in his element as his innings progressed, but just fell 3 short of what would have been a well-deserved ton. Shreyas Iyer came in at number three and he was tested early on by some good short-pitched bowling by the West Indian pacers. But once Shreyas got his eye in, he attacked the spinners and got a very handy half-century.

After that, India had a collapse as Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson fell in quick succession with the score reading 252-5. India could not get the acceleration in the last 15 overs that they desired and this put a brake on the run scoring. Yet, Deepak Hooda and Axar Patel managed to forge a handy partnership and land a couple of blows. When Deepak Hooda and Axar got out quickly. The finishing touch was not provided by Shardul Thakur, who found it difficult to go in and start hitting a straightaway. Thus, India did not get the finishing touch needed to end their total on a high. Gudakesh Montie and Alazarri Joseph picked up 2 wickets apiece for the West Indies.

The West Indies innings got off to the worst possible start as Shai Hope was dismissed very early on by Mohammed Siraj. Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks forged a formidable partnership to take the score to 133. There were notable contributions from the other batters as well. Rowman Powell was dismissed by Chahal in the battle of the ‘birthday boys’. The leggie and Thakur picked up two wickets apiece for India. Romario Sheperd had a start-stop innings but in the end, he couldn’t get West Indies over the line thanks to some top-death bowling by Mohammed Siraj.

The match turned out to be a last-ball thriller and Twitter was fully abuzz we will take a look at the reactions here –

🇮🇳🏏 WHAT A WIN! An exhilarating battle led to a thrilling final over finish, with Siraj coming cluch with some deadly yorkers in the last over to hand us the W ⚡

📸 Getty • #INDvWI #INDvsWI #WIvIND #TeamIndia #BharatArmy pic.twitter.com/iQHx8Me4ng

— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) July 23, 2022

English commentary for few overs then Hindi commentary, reminding me of my bachpan🥹.

— Bhawana (@bhawnakohli5) July 22, 2022

 

Most scores in the 90s by an India batsman in ODIs

Sachin Tendulkar – 18
Mohammad Azharuddin – 7
Shikhar Dhawan – 7
Virender Sehwag – 6
Virat Kohli – 6
Sourav Ganguly – 6
MS Dhoni – 6#IndvsWI #ShikharDhawan #Dhawan #cricketnews #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/p8fpK7SdUW

— Shivam Dubey (@ShivamDubey45) July 22, 2022

 

https://twitter.com/ranjaychoubey/status/1550598248435331072?s=20&t=S8L3kIHqDv8sJj06RRNPlQ

https://twitter.com/Delphy06/status/1550608465101717504?s=20&t=S8L3kIHqDv8sJj06RRNPlQ

Just when you thought they could drop Dhawan 😭😭😂😂.
Man scores when it matters the most.#IndvsWI #WIvsIND #fancode

— Hanvith Vytla (@Hanvith7) July 22, 2022

 

The save from Sanju Samson made a huge impact on the victory of the Indian team, it was a certain 4 extra runs for West Indies & they could have won the game. pic.twitter.com/wxcDLVqY29

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 22, 2022

Never mind he’s missed a century, #ShikharDhawan’s proving he’s evergreen!

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 22, 2022

 

 

Superb entertainment from two young sides at the QueensPark Oval today. Congrats to India. @windiescricket showed that if they get good pitches like today, they will perform much better. Credit to the ground staff for that surface. #WIvsIND

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) July 22, 2022

Sanju Samson’s stop was the difference in the end. 100% boundary. And that would’ve been Game Windies.

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 22, 2022

Siraj defends it well. Winning start for Shikhar and India. #IndvsWI

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) July 22, 2022