JAMAICA: Opening batsman Evin Lewis smashed 12 sixes in an unbeaten century as West Indies beat India by nine wickets in a one-off Twenty20 international in Jamaica on Sunday.
Lewis upstaged hometown hero Chris Gayle by compiling 125 not out off 62 deliveries, a run rate of more than two per ball as he scored the third-highest total in a T20 international.
West Indies won with nine balls to spare, making 194 for one off 18.3 overs in reply to India’s 190-6 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Lewis clinching the victory in style by sweeping spinner Ravindra Jadeja over the boundary rope.
The 25-year-old Trinidadian became the third player to score two T20 international centuries, after Gayle and New Zealander Brendon McCullum. Only Australians Aaron Finch (156) and Glenn Maxwell (145 not out) have recorded higher scores.
Gayle, in his first appearance for West Indies since they won the World Twenty20 15 months ago, compiled a relatively subdued 18 off 20 balls, while Marlon Samuels chipped in with 36 not out.
West Indies might have become easy-beats in Test cricket, but they showed on Sunday they are a different in the shortest version of the sport, especially with the bat.
“Five games in a row, in the ODIs, I didn’t do well but I kept believing in my ability and today I came out trumps,” Lewis said. — Reuters
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
