Twitter Reactions: Evin Lewis guides West Indies to thumping win in opener against South Africa

West Indies might be ICC’s no.10 ranked T20I team, but on Saturday, June 26, they gave an account of their brutal self. In the first of the five T20Is against South Africa, the home team won by eight wickets with 30 balls to spare. At the National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada, Kieron Pollard and Co showed why they are deemed as a force to reckon with in the shorter formats.

Van der Dussen holds fort

After being put in to bat first, the Proteas got off to a flying start as they scored 61 runs in 6.4 overs, to begin with. However, they lost both their openers- Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock– in quick succession. Even as Hendricks scored an 11-ball 17, De Kock smashed his way to 37 off 24 with two fours and sixes each.

But after their dismissal, South Africa could manage only 99 runs from 80 balls. Skipper Temba Bavuma hit three fours and his 22 came at a tad over a run-a-ball. Their middle-order faltered as Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and George Linde couldn’t get into double digits.

Nevertheless, Rassie van der Dussen scored 56 off 38 balls and took the Proteas to 160 for six in 20 overs. For the West Indies, left-arm spinner Fabian Allen and pacer Dwayne Bravo got two wickets each. Jason Holder and Andre Russell shared one wicket each.

Lewis goes hammer and tongs

West Indies made their intentions clear as they hammered 73 runs in the powerplay with a wicket. Andre Fletcher and Evin Lewis, the two openers, made sure that the Proteas were sent on the backfoot right from the word go.

The duo put on 85 for the opening wicket off seven overs, bringing the required rate down to 5.84. They were separated after Fletcher was run out for a 19-ball 30. At the other end, Lewis notched a half-century off 22 balls. The left-hander went on to score 71 off 35 with four fours and as many as seven sixes before Tabraiz Shamsi dismissed him.

Chris Gayle was a tad circumspect in his unbeaten 24-ball 32, though he hit one four and three sixes. Russell drilled the final nail in the Proteas’ coffin with a 12-ball 23*, laced with two fours and three sixes.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to West Indies’ win:

Well played, Evin Lewis. He Scored 71 runs from 35 balls including 4 Fours and 7 Sixes against South Africa in the First T20I match. He is won the man of the match award too. This is the full power hitting batting. #WIvSA pic.twitter.com/MWTVkGsMAh

— CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) June 27, 2021

Andre Russell has hit 27 sixes off the last 100 balls he has faced in T20 Internationals!!! 👀#WIvSA

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) June 26, 2021

This is the first time Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell are playing in the same Twenty20 (as team-mates/opponents) since the 2015 Johannesburg T20I against South Africa. #WIvSA

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) June 26, 2021

West Indies faced more dot balls (38 vs 37), hit fewer fours (9 vs 12) and had less than half of singles (26 vs 56) & twos (2 vs 10) than in South Africa innings.

Yet, they chased down 161 with five overs to spare all thanks to hitting TEN sixes more than SA! (15 vs 5) #WIvSA

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) June 26, 2021

Thoughts? #WIvSA pic.twitter.com/hjBNVyz6sj

— Kaushik (@_CricKaushik_) June 26, 2021

West Indies won the first T20I match by 8 Wickets and What a Dominating Performance by West Indies Batters. Such a high class T20 team by WI at the moment. Evin Lewis Brilliant 71(35), Gayle 32*(24) and Russell 23*(12). Full Domination, Russell Finish Match with a SIX. #WIvSA pic.twitter.com/59VH88LQnW

— CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) June 27, 2021

Evin Lewis and Fletcher treating Rabada and co. like net bowlers. Six sixes and we are inside the fifth over.
Some start this to the chase!!!#WIvSA

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) June 26, 2021

Damn.. missed a blinder from Evin Lewis 71 off 35

— tubz (@rwpexpress14) June 26, 2021