Kingston: Evin Lewis (125 n o, 62b, 6×4, 12×6) once again turned out to be India’s nemesis in the shortest format with yet another magnificent hundred in West Indies’ comfortable nine-wicket victory against the visitors in the one-off T20, here Sunday at the Sabina Park.
After India had put up a competitive 190 for six, Lewis led the West Indian charge as the hosts cantered home with nine balls to spare.
It turned out to be a forgettable day for the Indian bowling unit after a sub-par total on a batting belter as Lewis notched up the highest individual score by a West Indies batsman surpassing Chris Gayle. The same batsman had earlier tormented the Indian bowlers with a 49 –ball 100 during a T20 International in Florida, last year.
In fact, Lewis turned Gayle into spectator with his power-hitting as he cleared the front-leg to hit in the arc between long-off and long-on. Gayle’s contribution in the opening stand of 82 was a mere 18 off 19 balls.
On a true batting surface, the Trinidad left-hander just hit through the line clearing the ropes at will. He got a couple of reprieves with Mohammed Shami and Dinesh Karthik being the offenders. However, fortune favours the brave and Lewis was brave enough to tear apart the Indian attack.
The experienced spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja (five sixes) and Ravichandran Ashwin (four sixes) conceded nine between them while Mohammed Shami (0/46 in 3 overs) was hit for six boundaries and two sixes.
The experienced Marlon Samuels (36, n o, 29b, 5×4, 1×6) played second fiddle during the 112 run stand as Lewis fittingly finished the match with a six off Jadeja.
Earlier, Indian batsmen faltered badly after a rollicking start provided by their openers scoring who put on 64 runs in only 5.3 overs.
Skipper Virat Kohli (39, 22b, 7×4, 1×6) and Shikhar Dhawan (23, 12b, 5×4) made the best use of the powerplay overs. But after them only Dinesh Karthik (48, 29b, 5×4, 3×6) could keep the momentum going. Young Rishabh Pant (38, 35b, 2×4, 1×6) realised the difference domestic and international cricket and it was his knock that put India on the backfoot.
As a result, India could manage only 97 runs in their last overs The total was at least 20 runs short of par-score on a good batting surface.
Kohli was in regal form as he punished each and every bowler. A backfoot cover drive off Carlos Brathwaite and a six over long-on off Kesrick Williams stood out among the rest.
However, India lost three wickets in 13 balls and five runs and that completely upset the tempo. Jerome Taylor (2/31) and Williams (2/42) bowled well the hosts.
Brief scores: India 190 for six (Dinesh karthik 48, Virat Kohli 39, Jerome Taylor 2/32) lost to West Indies 194 for 1 in 18.3 overs (Evin Lewis 125 n o) by nine wickets.
