An electric batting display by the West Indies saw them take a 1-0 lead in the opener of the five-match T20 series against South Africa at the National Cricket Stadium on Saturday (local time) here at the National Cricket Stadium.
South Africa was outplayed particularly in the batting department, thanks to a West Indian outfit that packed a marked difference in personnel, with players such as captain Kieron Pollard, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell returning to the fold as they begin their preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup later this year.
It was the batting prowess of Evin Lewis that got the hosts the quick-fire start that they were looking for. He smashed seven sixes and four boundaries on his way to 71 from 35 balls in their reply to South Africa's under-par 160/6 after being put in to bat first. Lewis shared a partnership of 85 runs with Andre Fletcher to get their side off to a start which the visitors never recovered from.
Gayle and Russell contributed with unbeaten scores of 32 (24) and 23 (12) respectively, as their side cantered to an easy win. The only breakthroughs came by way of a direct hit by Lungi Ngidi (0/46) to remove Fletcher at the end of the 7th over and Tabraiz Shamsi (1/27), who finally ended Lewis' reign in the 12th.
Earlier in the match, Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks got their side off to a good start with the bat as they put on 33 runs for the opening stand before the latter was bowled out by Fabian Allen for 17 (11). De Kock hit two maximums and two boundaries as he raced to 37 from 24 balls, before his knock was brought to a screeching halt by Russell (1/29) in the seventh.
Captain, Temba Bavuma (22 off 20), tried to stabilise the ship with Rassie van der Dussen - who returned unbeaten for 56 off 38 - but their partnership soon ended when Allen struck again. The rest of the line-up could not manage to get a start. David Miller (9), Heinrich Klaasen (7) and George Linde all fell for single figures - Linde without scoring, thanks to Bravo (2/30) and Jason Holder (1/29).
The second match takes place later today at the same venue, which does not give the tourists much time to work on what needs turning around, but they are still confident that they can do so.
Brief Scores: South Africa 160/6 (Rassie van der Dussen 56, Quinton de Kock 37, Fabien Allen 2-18); West Indies 161/2 (Evin Lewis 71*, Chris Gayle 32, Tabraiz Shamsi 1-27).
( With inputs from ANI )
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