MUMBAI : A total of 192 was about par on a batting-friendly Wankhede, and it was set up by a Virat Kohli masterclass. But West Indies’ power hitters bulldozed their way through it to their second World T20 final.
A man who was caught off a no-ball twice beat a man who should have been run-out twice off a single free-hit. That was how comical – and spectacular – this World T20 semi-final was. And the ultimate gag was that Virat Kohli’s 89 not out off 47 balls was nothing short of a batting clinic, but Lendl Simmons 82 not out off 51 balls led a West Indian demolition job that left India’s chances of winning another title at home in the rubble.
A target of 193 would not have terrified Darren Sammy. He had been talking up Chris Gayle all through the World T20, however seven balls into the pursuit, he may have felt anxious. His kingpin was spotless knocked down some pins by Jasprit Bumrah and Marlon Samuels, who won this very trophy with one of the finest showcases of T20 batsmanship, left without a peep. West Indies were 19 for 2, already the required rate had hit double-digits and the men they had in the middle were Johnson Charles, who accumulates dot balls like his partner Simmons, who had arrived in India only two days ago, had accumulated air miles.
Two of the most unheralded batsmen in this power-packed line-up hit one boundary an over from the second until the 14th – which Kohli himself bowled and got rid of Charles with a juicy long-hop. That over, bowled by a part-timer, was the least expensive of the chase, stamping this game as laugh-out-loud madness. And through it all West Indies “just believed,” as Sammy said after the game. Even when they needed 109 runs off only 60 balls.
India were wavering. Not least because they seemed completely incapable of getting Simmons out. R Ashwin had him caught at short third man in the seventh over, but had also overstepped. In the 15th, Hardik Pandya had him caught at extra cover but his front foot had strayed as well. The ensuing free-hit was smashed over the midwicket boundary and West Indies went into the final five overs needing only 55 to win.
Now the mathletes would work out that is still an asking rate of 10 an over, but the West Indian batsmen are uber jocks. Their mis-hits go for boundaries, and some of Andre Russell’s indeed did. So when he did hit them off the middle, the bowlers had no chance. It was an innings – and a setting – that suited him to a T, much like his Mr T hairstyle. Russell’s first six came off the fourth ball he faced – and when the ball was soaring into the night sky, it seemed like it would clear the entire stadium – and his final one sealed the match with two balls to spare.
