The West Indies fought back incredibly hard to win the first T20 international against India at Tarouba with just four runs on Thursday night in a low scoring encounter of the five match series.
After making an ordinary total of 149/6 in their 20 overs, the West Indies bowlers produced a combined bowling performance to restrict India to 145/9, who were guilty of losing too many wickets in clusters in the chase during the first match of the series.
West Indies won the toss and decided to bat first but their start was not strong enough as the home team lost wickets early on. India leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed both West Indies openers Brendon looking for 28 and Kyle Mayers for one to put his team on the top, with Kuldeep Yadav dismissing Johnson Charles, the senior West Indies batsman.
However, West Indies captain Rovman Powell and wicket-keeper batsman Nicolas Pooran took the charge of making the transfer their side as they produced significant marks respectively.
Nicholas Pooran, who plays for Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian premiere league, scored 41 from 34 balls with the help of two boundaries and two sixes but the captain of the home team Rovman Powell was more aggressive, hitting three sixes and as many boundaries to make 48 from just 32 balls.
While India captain Hardik Pandya removed Nicholas Pooran from the equation, Arshdeep Singh got into the act to dismiss the West Indies captain Rovman Powell whereas he also removed Shimron Hetmyer for just 10 runs as the West Indies reached 149/6 in their 20 overs.
Yuzvendra Chahal was the most successful bowler for India as he returned with figures of 3-0-24-2 while fast bowler Arshdeep Singh was also impressive with an economy rate of 7.75 on the sluggish wicket, returning with 4-0-31-2.
In their reply, India were off to a poor start with Ishan Kishan being dismissed for six and explosive opening batsman Shubman Gill dismissed for three. Ishan Kishan was caught by the West Indies captain Rovman Powell off Obed McCoy whereas Akeal Hosien dismissed the right-handed Shubman Gill.
Suryakumar Yadav did well to make 21 from 21 balls with two boundaries and a six but he should have carried on and finished the innings for India, given that all eyes are on the right handed batsman with a few spots up for grabs in the ODI team as well in the buildup to the 50 over World Cup later this year in India.
Mumbai Indians batsmen and young talent Tilak Varma who was handed his international debut on Thursday night did not disappoint when he made 39 from 22 balls with three sixes and two fours but his effort was just not enough as India kept losing wickets at regular intervals which hampered the chase.
Indian captain Hardik Pandya was dismissed by former West Indies captain Jason Holder for 19 whereas talented wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson was unfortunate to have been run out for just 12 by Kyle Mayers.
In the end, despite useful contributions from Akshar Patel who made 13 and Arshdeep Singh who made 12, India could not achieve their target and were only able to get to 145/9 after the completion of their allotted 20 overs.
The second match of the five match T20 international series will now be played on Sunday in Providence whereas the same venue will host the third match on August 8. The two teams will then move to the United States where they will play the final two T20s at Lauderhill on August 12 and 13.