West Indies beat South Africa by 8 wickets in first T20I WI vs SA 1st T20: West Indies thrashed South Africa in 15 overs as soon as T20 arrived

GranadaWest Indies beat South Africa by 8 wickets with 30 balls to spare in the first T20 International on Saturday, thanks to a stormy innings by Evin Lewis (71). In the match played at the National Cricket Stadium in Granada, South Africa, who accepted the invitation to bat first, scored 160 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. In reply, West Indies chased down the target in 15 overs for the loss of two wickets. Lewis was adjudged man of the match for his brilliant innings. West Indies have taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Evin Lewis (71) and Andre Fletcher (30) got the West Indies off the target of 161 runs. Both had added 85 runs for the first wicket in 7 overs. Both the batsmen had taken an aggressive approach and were raining sixes. The partnership was broken by Ngidi running out Fletcher.

Lewis’ stormy half-century

Meanwhile, Lewis completed the seventh half-century of his T20 International career with the help of four fours and five sixes in just 22 balls. He completed his half-century by hitting a six over the bowler’s head in the fifth ball of the seventh over of the innings by Lungi Ngidi.

Lewis shared a 39-run partnership for the second wicket with his idol Chris Gayle (32 *). Shamsi ended Lewis’s innings by getting caught out by Miller. The 29-year-old batsman scored 71 runs in 35 balls with the help of four fours and seven sixes. Evin Lewis, playing the 36th T20 International of his career, also crossed the 1,000-run mark during the innings. After this, Gayle along with Andre Russell (23 *) gave the team victory five overs ago.

A total of 15 sixes were hit by West Indies. Universe boss Chris Gayle remained unbeaten on 32 off 24 balls with the help of one four and three sixes. Andre Russell scored an unbeaten 23 runs in 12 balls with the help of one four and three sixes.

Dussanne scored a half-century, Bravo-Allen’s superb bowling

Earlier, West Indies captain Kieron Pollard won the toss and invited South Africa to bat first. Reeza Hendrix, 17) and Quinton de Kock (37) made a quick start to 33 runs, but Allen broke the partnership by bowling Hendrix. After this, Andre Russell stopped Cock from playing a big innings and gave a second blow to the Proteas by getting caught by Holder.

From here, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma (22) added 34 runs for the third wicket with Rasi van der Dussen (56 *). Allen broke the partnership by getting Bavuma caught at the hands of Lewis. Heinrich Klaasen (7) also could not do much and returned to the dugout after catching Allen off Holder’s ball. Rasi van der Dussen held one end, but could not find support from the other end.

Dwayne Bravo took two wickets in the 19th over in the form of David Miller (9) and George Linde in two consecutive balls. Rasi van der Dussen scored an unbeaten 56 off 38 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes. Dwayne Bravo and Fabian Allen took two wickets each for West Indies. Jason Holder and Andre Russell got one success each. The second match of the five-match series between West Indies and South Africa will be played on Sunday.