Set a daunting 250 to chase, the pair of Ruterhford and Shai Hope were going all guns blazing, having added 63 runs off 29 balls for the fourth wicket when Kuldeep manufactured an opportunity in the 10th over. Rutherford tried to clear the short fine leg off a slow delivery on the pads, only to play it straight towards Mayank, who made a mess of an easy chance.
Gavaskar, on commentary duty for the match, felt the quick complicated a straightforward chance due to his urge to fall down while taking the catch. “I think it is the urge to fall down after every catch,” he said, “to show that it’s a lot better than it actually is.”
“That is what makes you lose your balance and simple catches are grassed,” he added. “Just stay put, keep your balance. It’s not important for you to fall down, but important for you to hold onto the catch.”
Rutherford made the most of the chance, slamming a six on the first balls of the following two overs to complete his fifty. Kuldeep ultimately got his man when he returned to the attack in the 15th over, forcing a thin edge off a flat, wide delivery. It was too late, however, as the southpaw had scored 84 off 37, featuring seven sixes and as many fours, to keep West Indies in the hunt.
Hope and Romario Shepherd continued the good work, eventually powering West Indies to the second-highest run-chase in T20I history. The visiting captain hit a second T20I century off 45 balls to finish unbeaten at 102 off 45. Shepherd scored 34 off 13 as West Indies got home with nine balls and six wickets to spare to level the five-match series.
Mayank, otherwise, started well with the ball, getting Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer on consecutive deliveries in the first over, before a 149.5kph thunderbolt broke through Rovman Powell’s defence. He finished with 3-36 off his three overs.
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