MUMBAI: India skipper MS Dhoni blamed it on losing the toss and conceding crucial no-balls after the West Indies snatched an unlikely win in Thursday’s WT20 semifinal. He had reasons to say that because overstepping let the India down twice. Offie R Ashwin was the culprit first when Lendl Simmons was caught by Bumrah in short third man. Later, Hardik Pandya over-stepped when a full-toss was hit straight to Ashwin. Final reprieve was when R Jadeja touched the boundary line while taking a catch.
Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 89 helped India to 192. But despite losing Chris Gayle early, the 2010 champions got half-centuries from Johnson Charles and Lendl Simmons to win with seven wickets and two balls to spare. “It was a bad toss to lose (because of the dew). Our spinners didn’t have much on offer and we have a history of problems with the wet ball. The only thing I’m disappointed with is no-balls. But conditions were tough four bowlers and it’s a demanding format,” said Dhoni. Windies captain Darren Sammy felt it was a good toss to win. “I was just praying we win the toss. I surprised myself by winning five of five,” he said.
Chasing 193 after a Virat Kohli special earlier in the day, they lost two for next to nothing before Lendl Simmons, Johnson Charles and Andre Russell seized the initiative.
Talking point
Simmons’ Three Lives:
Forget a bottle of Felix Felicis, Simmons must have drunk a gallon or two of that stuff before he came into bat. He was out thrice but was reprieved all three times. Twice when the bowler overstepped the crease and once when Ravindra Jadeja touched the boundary line while completing a skier at long on. To be fair to Simmons, he rode on that luck to orchestrate a stunning chase under lights