Evin Lewis ton helps WI thrash India in T20
Evin Lewis scored his second career century, which also was his second against India, to lead West Indies to a resounding nine-wicket victory in the one-off T20I here at the Sabina Park on Sunday. Lewis’s ton was the sixth fastest in T20Is and came off just 52 deliveries, helping WI chase their third biggest target in T20Is. India had set hosts West Indies a target of 191 runs in front of a decent crowd that had quite a lot of Indian supporters.
However, the target, which should have been challenging proved to be too little as Lewis, riding on chances he got from Indian fielders — he was dropped twice — made a mockery of it. He hit 12 sixes en route to 125 (62 balls, 6x4, 12x6) as the Indian challenge fizzled out against the World T20 champions. Lewis had scored a century in Lauderhill, USA, last year too against India to lead his side to a one-run win. The left-hander had it easy after beginning cautiously. He made seven off his first 10 balls but then launched into the attack. He tore in Mohammed Shami and then R Ashwin, smashing the offie for two sixes. Soon, Ravindra Jadeja, who had started with a tight over, was at the receiving end, getting hit for massive sixes. The WI opener ensured his side kept pace with the Indian run rate throughout the innings.
Earlier, India scored below 200 despite a flying start from openers skipper Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan. Although No. 4 Dinesh Karthik (48 off 29 balls, 5x4, 3x6) kept the scoreboard rolling, India lost track in the end overs before an 18-run last over helped them finish their innings at 190/6. Kohli (39 off 22 balls) and Dhawan (23 off 12 balls) added 64 for first wicket in 5.2 overs.
However, quick late wickets ensured hosts West Indies kept the target within manageable limits. From 151 in 15.4 overs when Karthik fell, India could inch to 172 for six in 19 overs. However, India were lucky to have that last over as Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin scored boundaries to keep India’s run rate at 9.5. Picked in the 11 ahead of Yuvraj Singh, Karthik vindicated the management’s decision to play him.