India 172 for 2 (Shreyas 102*, Ishan 37*; Hosein 1-37) beat West Indies 171 all out (Rutherford 56, Hope 52; Naman 3-31) by 8 wickets
The West Indies suffered a humbling eight-wicket defeat at the hands of India in the first T20 International in Lucknow on Tuesday. Following an underwhelming batting display, the Caribbean bowlers failed to provide the wicket-taking spark necessary to defend a below-par total, conceding the required 172 runs in 14.4 overs.
India’s captain, Shreyas Iyer, scorched 102 off 43 deliveries to right the hosts’ chase after an early wobble. The right-hander cashed in after a measured start, with an array of shots square of the wicket on his way to a maiden T20I hundred.
His 68-ball unbroken 137-run third-wicket stand with Ishan Kishan (37*) batted West Indies out of the game. Opener Abhishek Sharma started like a house on fire, taking a maximum and two boundaries from Matthew Forde’s opening over, racing to 21 from 10 balls.
He was brilliantly caught by Shimron Hetmyer, with Roston Chase finding the breakthrough at 29 for one in the third. Partner Samson (11) followed six runs later, caught and bowled by Akeal Hosein at 35 for two.
