Windies thumped hosts India by eight wickets in the second T20I to level the three-match series 1-1 at Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
Batting first, India put a competitive 170/7 on the board with all-rounder Shivam Dube smashing 54 off 30 balls and Rishabh Pant contributing an unbeaten 33 off 22 as West Indies seamer Kesrick Williams and leg-spinner Hayden Walsh got two wickets apiece.
In reply, opener Lendl Simmons slammed an unbeaten 67 off 45 balls and Nicholas Pooran scored 38 off 18 balls to finish the chase with 9 balls to spare.
The series decider will be played at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday (December 11).
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
#Pooran and #Simmons are definitely heroes of the #INDvWI #INDvsWI match but for me Williams, Pierre and Walsh conceding just 69 runs in 10 overs set up the match for West Indies pic.twitter.com/Q3XW8AbD32
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) December 8, 2019
Successfully chasing 170+ targets vs India:
West Indies – 3 times
All others – 5 times#IndvWI— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) December 8, 2019
It's not so much this victory (though that is very important), but the way this west indies team is playing and the potential they seem to have that should please many fans.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) December 8, 2019
Yes WI can! A thriller of a decider awaits! #WhistlePodu #INDvWI 🦁💛
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) December 8, 2019
West Indies take it to a decider 💪
Lendl Simmons played the key role with the bat, smashing 67* off 45 balls. He just loves playing India in must-win games!#INDvWI 👇 https://t.co/my4qd2mVoZ pic.twitter.com/GWcPxDftXj
— ICC (@ICC) December 8, 2019
Outstanding chase by WI. Well played 👏👏Made difficult task look easy. Such fantastic potential and calibre, especially in batting! Should be top of ICC ranking in this format, not at the bottom, if they set their minds on it and develop self belief
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 8, 2019
Lendl Simmons’ 67 off 45 balls sets up a Wednesday night thriller at the Wankhede with the series levelled at 1-1!#OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #INDvWI @54simmo @ICC pic.twitter.com/8A425TNb6O
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) December 8, 2019
West Indies made this chase look very easy. Something about Nicholas Pooran that makes him so highly rated. Shivam Dube a huge positive today for India. #IndvWI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 8, 2019
India need to prepare good bowling unit which can defend any target. #kulcha and bumrah will help the cause but need other bowlers to step up #worldcup2020 #INDvsWI
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 8, 2019
A convincing win for West Indies, the series is tied at 1-1 now with the final T20I to be played at Wankhede stadium 🏟️#OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #INDvWI
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) December 8, 2019
India does not look as classy and secure a team in T20 as it does in ODIs and Tests. In large part because the shortest format is the most unpredictable, but also because the right combo is still elusive
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 8, 2019
The last time Lendl Simmons scored a T20I fifty – also vs India – 82 at Mumbai in SF #WT20 in 2016
Since then 12 inns, highest 19#IndvIW #Indvswi— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 8, 2019
Lendl Simmons' fifty propels Windies to an easy win #INDvWIhttps://t.co/xhOcAfHIag pic.twitter.com/4U108z3s2t
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 8, 2019
That’s a solid win for West Indies, they beat India in a T20I after June 2017 #INDvsWI
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) December 8, 2019
India had just five sixes in their innings but West Indies have had 11 already. That’s game, set and match ! #cricket #IndvWI
— Chandresh Narayanan (@chand2579) December 8, 2019
Batting first is the bigger nemesis for India in this format. From 97-2 in 10.2 overs they managed just 73 in the last 10-odd overs and 170 was never going to be enough. Two sides to the same team, batting first or chasing down totals. #INDvsWI
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) December 8, 2019
I thought the chase would be more difficult. Yes, the ball was a bit moist, but can't let that take away from an excellent West Indies run chase
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 8, 2019
