1st T20I, India vs West Indies: Evin Lewis Smashes Fifth-Fastest Century
Evin Lewis smashed the fifth-fastest Twenty20 International century as West Indies amassed a massive total against India in the first match in Lauderhill, Florida.
Highlights
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Evin Lewis scored his maiden century in T20Is
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Lewis is second West Indies batsman after Gayle to score T20I century
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West Indies defeated India in semi-final of 2016 World T20
There was a collective sign of disappointment at Central Broward ground in Florida when Carlos Brathwaite, the West Indies captain announced that Chris Gayle, Twenty20 International's ultimate 'Universe Boss' would not play due to injury.
However, West Indies ensured that Gayle's big-hitting skills would not be missed as Evin Lewis smashed the fifth fastest century in Twenty20 Internationals against India.
India chose to bowl on a flat track and they were immediately caught off guard when Jonhson Charles and Lewis launched a ferocious assault on the Indian bowlers. In the first over, Mohammed Shami leaked 17 runs and from that point on, it was carnage. Jasprit Bumrah conceded 18 runs in one over while Ravindra Jadeja conceded 20 in one over.
Charles and Lewis shared a 126-run opening stand before Shami broke the stand by bowling Charles for 79 off 33 balls. However, from that point on, it was the Lewis show and he took the attack to the Indian bowlers. In the 11th over, Stuart Binny was carted for five consecutive sixes and it seemed the left-handed Lewis would join Yuvraj Singh in the six sixes club. However, he could only mistime a full toss on the final ball as Binny leaked 32 runs in his only over.
Lewis looked good to break the record for the fastest century in Twenty20 Internationals, which was 45 balls by South Africa's Richard Levi against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2012. R Ashwin bowled well and in two overs, he managed to bowl six dot balls at the left-hander which denied him the record.
In the 16th over bowled by Jadeja, Lewis knocked a flatter delivery to point to notch up his maiden hundred in just his second T20I match. It was his explosive knock which helped West Indies reach the 200-run mark in just the 16th over, which is the fastest by a team in the shortest format.
In the same over, Lewis sliced a shortish ball to cover where Ashwin ran back to take the catch. His hundred came off 49 balls and it included five fours and nine sixes.