Masters of T20! Lewis Smashes 125, WI Thrash India by 9 Wickets

Chris Gayle was included in the team, but scored a 20-ball-18.

Evin Lewis once again turned out to be India's nemesis in the shortest format with a magnificent hundred in West Indies' nine wicket victory over India in the one-off T20 at Kingston.

Chasing a target of 191, Lewis smashed his way to an unbeaten 125 off 62 balls with as many as 12 sixes and six fours as the reigning World T20 champions reached the target in just 18.3 overs.

Lewis’ 125 is now also the highest T20 international score by a West Indies batsman, surpassing the 117 made by Chris Gayle in 2007, against South Africa. In fact, on Sunday, the opening stand of 82 between Gayle and Lewis saw the veteran contribute just 18 runs, off 19 balls.

This is also Lewis’ second T20 century against India, having smashed a 49 -ball-100 during the T20 in Florida last year.

On a true pitch, the Trinidad left-hander hit through the line clearing the ropes at will. He got a couple of reprieves with Mohammed Shami and Dinesh Karthik being the offenders.

The experienced spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja (5 sixes), Ravichandran Ashwin (4 sixes) conceded nine sixes between them while Mohammed Shami (0/46 in 3 overs) was hit for six boundaries and two sixes.

Marlon Samuels (36 no off 29 balls) played second fiddle during their 112 run stand as Lewis fittingly finished the match with a six off Jadeja.

Earlier, Indian batsmen faltered badly after the big start provided by their openers, ultimately wrapping up for 190 for 6.

Skipper Kohli (39 off 22 balls) and Shikhar Dhawan (23 off 12 balls) added 64 in a whirlwind opening stand using the Powerplay overs to the fullest. However Dinesh Karthik (48 off 29 balls) and Rishabh Pant (38 off 35 balls) could not keep the momentum despite an 86- run stand in 9.5 overs.

As a result, India could manage only 97 runs in the their back 10 after scoring 93 in the first, largely due to positive intent shown by the Dhawan-Kohli duo. 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, hitting seven boundaries and a six during his short stay. Dhawan was also in imperious form hitting Samuel Badree for a couple of boundaries in his opening over. He hit three more boundaries as India looked set for a big total.

However, Kohli trying to repeat a shot off Williams couldn't clear mid-on. New man Pant was responsible for a poor call running Dhawan out.

Once Pant and Karthik joined forces, the run-rate dipped badly. Karthik, getting a lucky chance after seven long years (he last played T20I in 2010 during the World T20) due to Hardik Pandya's injury right before the game, did hit some cheeky shots en route his career-best score of 48.

It was expected that Karthik with all his IPL experience would take the team past 200-run mark as his partner was struggling with his timing, he tried to play an audacious lap shot off Samuels, moving outside the off-stump, only to be bowled.

Jerome Taylor (2/31) then removed MS Dhoni (2) trying to slog over extra cover and Pant, trying a ramp shot, off successive deliveries as India slumped from 151 for 2 to 156 for 5, eventually managing to post just 190 in their 20 overs.

(With inputs from PTI)