Twitter Reactions: Johnson Charles' blitzkrieg helps West Indies post their highest T20I total against South Africa

After taking a 1-0 lead in the first T20I, West Indies locked horns with South Africa once again in the second T20I on Sunday, March 26 at SuperSport Park in Centurion. South Africa Captain Aiden Markram won the toss and invited the West Indies to bat first.

The decision was vindicated by Wayne Parnell who dismissed the dangerous Brandon King on the third ball of the first over of the game. Little did South Africa know that they will regret dismissing King so early at the end of the first innings, as the next batter, Johnson Charles, left their bowlers begging for mercy with his mind-boggling knock.

Charles walked to the crease and wasted no time as he got off the mark with consecutive boundaries against Parnell on the last two balls of the over. The 34-year-old came out all guns blazing and unleashed his beast mode on the Proteas.

He brought up his fifty off just 23 balls and got good support from Kyle Mayers as the duo added 135 for the second wicket in just 58 balls. The partnership ended as Marco Jansen dismissed Kyle Mayers for a well-made 51 off 27 balls.

However, Charles continued his onslaught from the other end and brought the South African attack down to their knees. He brought up his hundred in 39 balls and registered the fastest hundred by a West Indian and the joint second-fastest in T20Is.

West Indies posted 258/5 in the first innings

He was finally dismissed on 118 off 46 balls smacking ten fours and 11 sixes in his innings. After his dismissal, captain Rovman Powell played a cameo of 28 off 19 balls. However, it was Romario Shepherd who propelled the Windies’ total past 250 with his stupendous knock of 41* off 18 balls with the help of one four and four sixes in his innings.

Odean Smith also contributed with 11* off 5 balls as West Indies finished their innings on 258/5 in their allotted 20 overs which is their highest total in T20Is. Marco Jansen was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa as he picked 3/52 in his four overs while Wayne Parnell also picked up two wickets.

West Indies clobbered a massive 22 sixes in their innings which is the joint-highest in a T20I innings. 

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Windies Cricket@windiescricket

🚨 West Indies Record Amazing innings by Johnson Charles. Fastest T20I hundred by a West Indian, breaking Chris Gayle’s @henrygayle record that was established in 2016🔥 #MaroonMagic #Rainingsixes #CharlesPower #MenInMaroon #SAvWI

06:33 PM · Mar 26, 2023

24262

Johns.@CricCrazyJohns

End of a crazy knock by Johnson Charles. 118 runs from just 46 balls including 10 fours & 11 sixes - he got out in the 14th over, absolute carnage.

06:34 PM · Mar 26, 2023

1.6K74

Harsha Bhogle@bhogleharsha

Johnson Charles is in that happy state where he doesn't realise getting out is a possibility! 100(39) 9x6, 9x4!

06:27 PM · Mar 26, 2023

2K72

Jarrod Kimber@ajarrodkimber

I love that every couple of years we get a Johnson Charles day.

06:32 PM · Mar 26, 2023

1076

Carlos Brathwaite@CRBrathwaite26

Take a bow Johnson Charles

06:27 PM · Mar 26, 2023

18420

Ian Raphael Bishop@irbishi

Prince Charles of Centurion 👑 👑👑SAvsWI

06:30 PM · Mar 26, 2023

52831

Rajneesh Gupta@rgcricket

In the history of all T20 cricket (>12,000 matches), there has been only one three-figure knock with a higher boundary percentage than Johnson Charles' 89.83 Rohit Sharma had a boundary percentage of 91.52 (108 out of 118 runs) against Sri Lanka at Indore in 2017. #SAvWI #WIvSA twitter.com/rgcricket/stat…

Rajneesh Gupta@rgcricket

Johnson Charles has just got out after scoring 118 off only 46 balls, with 11 sixes and 10 fours - 106 runs (~90%) in boundaries alone! This against a bowling attack comprising of Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell, Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi! What carnage! 😲😲 #SAvWI #WIvSA

06:53 PM · Mar 26, 2023

73

BND For All@BigNonVeganDave

johnson charles did WHAT?!

07:29 PM · Mar 26, 2023

00

° ©ric@CricWithKB

° West Indies and Johnson Charles created history today: •WI highest total in T20I history. •Charles scored fastest T20I 100 for WI. •Charles scored 3rd fastest T20I 100. •WI hits 22 Sixes - Joint most in an inns. •Charles hits 11 Sixes alone in his inns. ©KBcric

07:27 PM · Mar 26, 2023

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Ahsan Zameer Baloch@AhsanZameer4

2nd t20i in Centurion #SouthAfrica vs #WestIndies The highest score in Centurion The highest score of WI in t20i The fastest 100 by Johnson Charles in 39 balls for his county

07:26 PM · Mar 26, 2023

00

SN Cricket@Alvorny

Johnson Charles may have hit a 100 Today vs SA But his best opponent is IND Charles has played 3 T20Is vs IND (All in 2016) In those 3 T20Is vs IND, 52(36) in semis of WT20 79(34) in a 244 Game 43(25) in a No Result 174 Runs off 95 Balls @ 185 SR vs IND #SAvWI

07:25 PM · Mar 26, 2023

21

Article

Jose Puliampatta (Prof. Bala)@JosePuliampatta

To those who might have missed: At Centurian, SA inserted WI to bat in a T20i Ended up facing a score of 258/5 What the hell? It is close to a low ODI score! The hero for WI is Johnson Charles with a score of 118 just in 46 balls.

07:24 PM · Mar 26, 2023

10

CricketMAN2@ImTanujSingh

West Indies and Johnson Charles created history today: •WI highest total in T20I history. •Charles scored fastest T20I 100 for WI. •Charles scored 3rd fastest T20I 100. •WI hits 22 Sixes - Joint most in an inns. •Charles hits 11 Sixes alone in his inns.

07:24 PM · Mar 26, 2023

12114

Zain Hassan Ranjha@ZainHas03013804

WEST INDIES SCORE 258 in 20. 🔥Smashed Hamarad Johnson Charles, who got lost from the national team for many years came back into the side last year. Today, the 34-year old batsman smashed the fastest T20I hundred in the history of West Indies cricket. 💯 Charles 118 (46)

07:23 PM · Mar 26, 2023

00

....@YouBearsssssss

Remarkable from West Indies!!!!😳258-5 off 20 Overs!!!🔥Johnson Charles 119 off Just 47 Balls👏 #SAvWI compared to the #AFGvPAK T20 Series in Sharjah..... where 100 seems A good Score this is much more Fun IMO!!!!!🏏

07:23 PM · Mar 26, 2023

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