India’s Shreyas Iyer Hits Maiden T20I Century in 32-Ball Win
Struck an unbeaten 102 from 43 balls as India beat West Indies in the first T20I in Lucknow. India chased down the target with 32 deliveries remaining after…
Lucknow’s first T20I turned on a rapid Indian chase. Shreyas Iyer struck an unbeaten 102 from 43 balls to lead India to victory over West Indies at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, with 32 deliveries remaining.
India had chosen to field after winning the toss, then bowled out West Indies for 171 in 19.1 overs. Iyer’s century, his first in the shortest format, gave the home side a commanding start to the series and turned a competitive target into a one-sided finish.
The result followed a sharp change in momentum. West Indies had reached 100 for three before India’s spinners took control, claiming four quick wickets and leaving the visitors at 127 for seven after 15 overs.
Iyer finished unbeaten on 102, while Ishan Kishan helped keep the chase moving by rotating the strike. India completed the pursuit despite losing both opening batters inside the first four overs.
Abhishek Sharma supplied an early burst, scoring 14 runs from Matthew Forde’s opening over. Roston Chase then had him caught at long-off, and Akeal Hosein took a return catch to dismiss Sanju Samson for 11.
The early wickets briefly checked India’s scoring. Iyer steadied the innings and then accelerated, repeatedly finding ways to score against the seam attack. He was unbeaten on 45 from 25 balls during the middle of the chase, before powering on to his century.
West Indies had begun their innings unevenly. Arshdeep Singh bowled debutant Kamil Pooran for 12, while a miscommunication led to Shimron Hetmyer’s run-out for five. Shai Hope anchored the recovery, and Sherfane Rutherford added late runs as the visitors tried to rebuild.
Hope scored 52 before debutant Naman Dhir ended his partnership with Rutherford, taking a catch at deep midwicket. Kuldeep Yadav then trapped Chase leg before wicket for five, and Dhir returned to remove Romario Shepherd for seven.
Rutherford reached a half-century from 31 balls, according to the Yahoo Sports match report, but India’s bowlers kept taking wickets. West Indies were all out for 171, leaving India a chase that their captain settled with an aggressive display.
The win also gave Iyer an immediate milestone in his first T20I as captain, according to the match details and live coverage. Naman Dhir and Kamil Pooran made their T20I debuts in Lucknow, though Dhir’s two wickets came as India’s spinners took apart the middle order.
For viewers, the match was carried in India by Star Sports Network and JioHotstar, and in the West Indies by ESPN Caribbean and its digital platforms, according to the source. India finished the chase with 32 deliveries still unused.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
