1st T20I: Ton-up Shreyas Iyer helps India decimate West Indies
What's the story
Captain Shreyas Iyer hammered a sensational hundred as India recorded an eight-wicket win against the West Indies in the first T20I. Chasing 172 runs to win in Lucknow, India lost both their openers early on. However, a match-winning third-wicket partnership between Iyer and Ishan Kishan took the hosts home. Earlier in the day, WI were bowled out for 171 as Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford registered fifties.
WI innings
Hope, Rutherford attack the Indian bowlers
Hope opened the innings aggressively, hitting five boundaries in two overs.
However, lack of support from the other end meant WI were reeling at 44/3.
Rutherford's arrival at number five marked the start of the rescue work.
He and Hope attacked the Indian spinners, adding 63 runs for the fourth wicket.
The latter was dismissed right after completing his fifty.
However, Rutherford continued the good work at one end and took the team past 170.
He was the ninth batter to be dismissed.
Chase
Iyer's ton headlines the run chase
India's chase started on a shaky note with both openers Sanju Samson (11) and Abhishek Sharma (21) going back within the first four overs.
However, Kishan then joined forces with Iyer, and they formed a partnership that effectively ended the contest.
Despite losing two early wickets, Iyer didn't let the situation affect his game.
He took his time initially but started opening up once he was set, putting West Indies bowlers under increasing pressure with his ability to find boundaries without losing control.
Kishan supported him well as their 137-run stand saw India (172/2) prevail with 32 balls to spare.
Hope
Hope's maiden T20I fifty versus India
Hope hit six fours and two sixes in his 37-ball 52.
As per Cricinfo, the batter has now raced to 1,795 runs from 71 T20Is at an average of 30.42. This was his 13th fifty (100: 1).
203 of his runs have come in eight games against India at 27. This was his maiden fifty against them.
Rutherford
1,000 T20 runs loading for Rutherford
Rutherford's 34-ball 56* was laced with three sixes and six fours.
With this knock, the southpaw has raced to 958 runs from 57 T20I matches at an average of 25.21.
This was his seventh half-century and a maiden one against the Indians. He was out for 14 in his only previous outing against them.
Dhir
Dhir join these names
On his debut, Naman Dhir made a mark with his off-spin, taking 3/31 in four overs.
As per Cricbuzz, Dhir became just the third Indian spinner to trap at least three batters on T20I debut.
Notably, Dhir, who bowls off-spin, had just eight wickets across 61 T20 matches before his T20I debut.
This, however, includes a five-wicket haul.
Spells
Fine spells from the veterans
Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav also contributed with two wickets each.
The former finished with 2/26 from 3.2 overs, taking his T20I tally to 111 wickets at 21.88 (ER: 7.45).
Kuldeep's 2/33 from four overs has powered him to 97 wickets at a jaw-dropping average of 13.80 (ER: 6.98).
Iyer
Maiden T20I hundred for Iyer
Iyer scored an unbeaten 102 off just 43 balls with the help of 10 fours and six sixes.
Having accomplished the feat off 42 balls, Iyer became the fastest Indian to score a T20I hundred against West Indies.
He also became the third India captain to score a century in men's T20Is, joining Rohit Sharma (three) and Suryakumar Yadav (one).
This was his second T20 hundred across five innings at the Ekana Stadium (335 runs at a strike rate of 200.59).
Feat
7,500 runs in T20 cricket
With his 15th run, Iyer crossed the 7,500-run mark in T20 cricket.
Playing his 271st T20 match, Iyer has raced to 7,587 runs at an average of 35.28 and a strike rate of 139.15.
The Indian batter struck his fifth ton as he also boasts 50 half-centuries in the format.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned IND-WI T20I also saw him surpass 4,000 T20 runs as captain (now 4,086).
He averages a solid 39.66 across 131 games in this regard (50s: 28, 100s: 3).
Information
What about T20I numbers
Playing his 68th T20I, Iyer has raced to 1,615 runs at an average of 32.95. The tally includes 10 fifties besides this ton. He has managed 239 runs across nine T20Is against WI at 34.14. This includes two 50-plus scores.
Kishan
Fine hand from Kishan
Kishan assisted Iyer well with a fine 27-ball 37 (5 fours).
Across 62 T20Is, the left-hander has racked up 1,838 runs at an average of 31.68. His tally includes a strike rate of 145.87 (50s: 13, 100s: 1).
A few days back, Kishan became the second Indian cricketer to hammer 1,000 runs in a calendar year in T20 International cricket.
He has raced to 1,042 runs at an average of 38.59 and a strike rate of 168.06.