In the T20 format, small differences can have a significant impact, and a single moment of brilliance can completely change a match’s outcome. Kyle Mayers demonstrated this perfectly on Thursday when he executed an exceptional run-out, putting West Indies in a favorable position during a tense run chase vs India.
India faced a tough time during their run chase in the first T20I against West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium, struggling to score on the slow pitch.
They managed to build some momentum, but an exceptional piece of fielding by Kyle Mayers shifted the game back in favor of the Maroon brigade. After Jason Holder dismissed Hardik Pandya, Samson and Axar Patel were holding the fort for India.
However, Mayers’ brilliant throw from short cover caught Samson short of his crease, leaving India with only tailenders to bat.
After opting to bat first, skipper Rovman Powell’s decision seemed to pay off initially as Brandon King made a quick start, but Yuzvendra Chahal’s brilliance dismissed both King and Kyle Mayers in the fifth over, shifting the momentum in India’s favor.
Nicholas Pooran’s explosive batting provided some resistance, but Kuldeep Yadav’s outstanding middle-overs bowling slowed him down, and he eventually fell for 41 runs in the 15th over, leaving West Indies struggling at 96/4. However, Powell’s excellent innings of 48 runs at a strike rate of 150 helped West Indies reach a competitive total of 149/6.
In response, India faced a challenging start as Akeal Hossein and Obed McCoy dismissed Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan, reducing India to 28/2 in the fifth over.
Suryakumar Yadav couldn’t replicate his usual form and was out for 21 runs in the 10th over. Debutant Tilak Verma showed some impressive stroke-making, scoring 39 off 22 balls. But with the pressure mounting, Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson failed to capitalize on the tricky pitch.
They managed to bring down the equation to 37 runs required off 30 balls, but Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers’ brilliant efforts turned the game around. Despite some late boundaries from Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh, India fell short by four runs in the run-chase.
However, many fans consider the run out of Sanju Samson was the turning point of the match. It also gave the Indian fans a flashback of MS Dhoni’s run out in the World Cup 2019 semi-final vs New Zealand.
— No-No-Crix (@Hanji_CricDekho) August 3, 2023
Important Wicketkeepers getting run out and India losing the match. It's 2023 but story hasn't changed since 2019. That time Dhoni, this time Sanju! pic.twitter.com/IxHWYQqcJv
— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) August 3, 2023
