ZCZC
BSP-21
CRICKET-IND-WIS-TOSS
West Indies opt to bowl in T20 decider against India
MUMBAI, Dec 11, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard won the
toss and elected to bowl first in the third and deciding Twenty20
international against India in Mumbai on Wednesday.
The West Indies retained their winning XI from the eight-wicket triumph in
Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday as they bid to clinch the three-match series
currently tied at 1-1.
“I think it was a good performance (in the last game),” Pollard said at the
toss.
“We’re always looking to improve and there are a couple of areas to improve
on. It’s a fresh wicket and hopefully, our guys can make use of it with the
new ball.”
The hosts, led by Virat Kohli, made two changes to their starting line-up
with paceman Mohammed Shami and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav included
in the team.
Kohli said putting up a challenging total and improving on their sloppy
fielding from the previous loss will be key.
“In the past we have been a bit tentative batting first, we want to improve
that,” said Kohli.
“Fielding is a massive factor in T20s, two wickets in an over would have
been a different ball game last match.”
Indian fielders dropped two crucial catches, including man of the match
Lendl Simmons who earned a reprieve on six as the opener made an unbeaten 67
to anchor the West Indies chase.
Teams
India: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh
Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar,
Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami
West Indies: Kieron Pollard (capt), Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Brandon
King, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Jason Holder, Khary Pierre,
Kesrick Williams, Sheldon Cottrell, Hayden Walsh Jr
Umpires: Nitin Menon (IND) and CK Nandan (IND)
TV umpire: Chettithody Shamshuddin (IND)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
BSS/AFP/SSS/2001 hrs