Brief scores: India (172/2) beat West Indies (171) by 8 wickets in the first T20I in Lucknow.
Captain Shreyas Iyer smashed his maiden T20I century to lead India to a crushing eight-wicket win over the West Indies in the first T20I on Tuesday. Iyer’s unbeaten 102 off 43 balls helped India chase down 172 in just 17.3 overs, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead in the five-match series and extending their winning run in T20Is to 10 matches.
Iyer walked in during the third over with India at 35 for 2, but quickly settled into the chase before taking the attack apart. On a surface that was not as easy to bat on as the three pitches used during the ODI series, the India captain combined patience with powerful strokeplay to turn what could have been a tricky chase into a comfortable one.
IND vs WI, 1st T20I: Highlights | Scorecard
The hundred was Iyer’s first in T20Is and the highest score of his career in the format, surpassing his previous best of 80 not out off 49 balls against England in Bristol earlier this year. He reached his century in just 42 balls, becoming the fastest Indian batter to score a T20I hundred against the West Indies.
Iyer also became only the third India captain to score a century in men’s T20Is, joining Rohit Sharma, who has three hundreds, and Suryakumar Yadav, who has one.
The moment he reached the landmark brought a standing ovation from the crowd. Iyer raised his helmet and acknowledged the applause before being congratulated by Ishan Kishan, who had played an important role in the chase. A few West Indies players also walked up to acknowledge the Indian captain’s innings.
Iyer had plenty to do after India lost two early wickets, but he did not allow the situation to affect the chase. He took his time early on, then began to open up once he was set. His ability to find boundaries without losing control put the West Indies bowlers under increasing pressure.
Kishan provided solid support at the other end as the pair stitched together the partnership that effectively ended the contest. India had been 35 for 2, but once Iyer found his rhythm, the target began to look well within reach.
The ease with which India completed the chase also highlighted how far West Indies had fallen short with the bat. Sherfane Rutherford had suggested at the end of the first innings that his side were around 20 runs short. The way India chased the target suggested they may have needed another 60 runs to make the contest competitive.
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Earlier, debutant Naman Dhir produced a memorable first outing for Indiaclaiming 3 for 31 with his off-spin as West Indies were bowled out for 171. Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets, while Axar Patel also played an important role as India recovered from an aggressive start by the visitors.
Shai Hope came out attacking and smashed Mayank Yadav for four boundaries in the second over. Iyer responded by bringing Axar into the attack in the third over, and India soon began to make inroads.
Arshdeep Singh provided the first breakthrough when he bowled Kamil Pooran with a pitch-up delivery. West Indies then suffered another setback in the sixth over when Shimron Hetmyer was run out while attempting an unnecessary single.
Axar struck soon after, cleaning up Rovman Powell with a full delivery after the right-hander went for a big heave over square leg. West Indies were suddenly three wickets down and needed a partnership.
Rutherford provided it. The left-hander took on Kuldeep in the ninth over, hitting him for two sixes, before attacking Axar in the 11th over with two boundaries and a six. His 56 off 34 balls gave the West Indies innings some much-needed momentum.
Hope, who had played second fiddle after Rutherford’s arrival, reached his fifty before falling for 52 off 37 balls. He was caught by Axar at deep midwicket off Dhir in the 12th over.
Kuldeep then trapped Roston Chase lbw as West Indies slipped to 114 for 5 in 12.3 overs. Romario Shepherd briefly threatened to add some late runs when he hit Dhir for a six over deep square leg, but the debutant came back strongly to have him caught at long-off by Tilak Varma.
Ishan Kishan then produced an excellent catch at deep midwicket off Kuldeep to dismiss Rutherford, ending the innings’ biggest threat.
Dhir completed his three-wicket haul by dismissing Shamar Springer, who was caught by Axar at the boundary after hitting the spinner for a six off the previous delivery.
Mayank Yadav, returning to the Indian side after an injury lay-off, had an expensive outing but eventually removed Rutherford, who was caught by Dhir at deep square leg.
Axar Patel then completed the innings by dismissing Akeal Hosein, caught by Ishan at long-on, as West Indies were bowled out for 171.
But the night belonged to Iyer. After losing six of his first seven matches as India’s T20I captain, he has now led the team to 10 successive victories. His hundred came at a crucial stage of the chase and ensured India never allowed West Indies back into the contest.
With Iyer in this kind of form, India could hardly have asked for a better start to the five-match series.
– Ends
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