(Kaieteur News) – Shreyas Iyer produced a breathtaking century on his T20I captaincy debut as India dismantled the West Indies by eight wickets in the opening match of their five-game series at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday.
Chasing 172 for victory, India reached 172 for two in just 14.4 overs, with Iyer finishing unbeaten on a spectacular 102 from 43 deliveries. His innings, which featured 10 fours and six sixes, propelled India to victory with 32 balls to spare and gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the series.
Shreyas Iyer hammered a 42-ball century to help India over the line. (BCCI photo)
The result extended India’s winning streak in T20 internationals to 10 matches and underlined the hosts’ dominance in the shortest format.
West Indies, sent in to bat, struggled for momentum early and were reduced to 41 for three at the end of the Powerplay.
Arshdeep Singh provided India’s first breakthrough, while Axar Patel made a decisive impact with the final over of the Powerplay, removing Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell in a double-wicket maiden.
At 44 for three, the visitors needed a substantial partnership to rebuild their innings, and Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford delivered precisely that.
Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford
Hope, coming off an unbeaten 162 in the third ODI against India, continued his strong run of form with a composed 52 from 37 balls.
Rutherford provided the aggression, striking 56 from 34 deliveries as the pair added 93 for the fourth wicket and temporarily shifted the momentum in West Indies’ favour.
Their partnership helped West Indies recover to 82 for three after 10 overs, but India regained control during the latter stages of the innings.
Naman Dhir claimed three wickets for 31 runs, while Axar returned two for 26 as the visitors were bowled out for 171 in 19.1 overs.
The West Indies total appeared competitive at the halfway stage, but India’s response quickly transformed the contest into a one-sided affair.
The hosts lost two early wickets and were 35 for two inside four overs, offering West Indies a glimpse of an opportunity. Iyer, however, changed the complexion of the chase with an extraordinary display of clean hitting.
Partnering with Ishan Kishan, who contributed a valuable 37 from 27 balls, Iyer dismantled the West Indies attack. The pair added an unbeaten 137-run partnership, taking India from early trouble to a commanding victory.
Iyer reached his maiden T20I century in just 42 balls before finishing on 102 from 43, making his innings one of the most destructive performances in recent T20I cricket.
The teams now turn their attention to the second T20I, scheduled for Friday at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi, with the remaining matches being played in Indore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
Source: Kaieteur News
