West Indies made a fist of it but the lack of runs courtesy another batting implosion proved their downfall, as they slipped to a five-wicket defeat to India in the opening Twenty20 International here Sunday.
Defending an inadequate 109 at Eden Gardens, West Indies were in the contest after reducing the hosts to 45 for four in the eighth over, as debutant fast bowler Oshane Thomas produced a fiery spell to unsettle the top order.
But India steadied themselves through a fifth-wicket partnership between Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey, to get over the line with 13 balls remaining and extend West Indies’ misery on tour.
Veteran Kieron Pollard’s return to international cricket for the first time in 15 months was met with disappointment, labouring 26 balls over his 14 before failing to clear long on in the 10th over from left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya.
Darren Bravo’s first appearance for West Indies in two years was also an unflattering one, the left-hander scoring just five before tugging Kuldeep to Shikhar Dhawan at long on in the 11th over.
