Iyer century leaves Windies on the losing side

LUCKNOW, India (AP):

Shreyas Iyer blasted an unbeaten 102 off 43 balls as India defeated West Indies by eight wickets yesterday in the first of their five-match Twenty20 International series.

The India captain brought up his maiden T20 century from just 42 deliveries, equalling the sixth-fastest hundred by an Indian batter in the format as the hosts raced to 172-2 in 14.4 overs to overhaul West Indies’ 171 all out in 19.1 overs.

Iyer struck six sixes and 10 fours, while Ishan Kishan finished unbeaten on 37 as the pair combined in a match-winning partnership of 137 from 67 balls for the third wicket.

For the visitors, Shai Hope (52) and Sherfane Rutherford (56) scored half-centuries to spark a recovery from 135-8, but the total proved below par against the reigning T20 world champions.

The second match will be played in Ranchi on Friday.

Earlier, India won the toss and elected to field, with batting all-rounder Naman Dhir making his T20 International debut for the hosts.

Set 172 for victory, India lost both of their in-form batters during the power play. Abhishek Sharma scored 21 from 10 balls before holing out off Roston Chase, while Sanju Samson departed for 11.

India reached 62-2 at the end of the power play before Kishan and Iyer steadied the innings, taking the score to 102-2 at the halfway stage.

Iyer reached his half-century from 28 balls with eight fours before accelerating dramatically, bringing up his next 50 runs from just 14 deliveries, including six sixes.

The right-hander was unbeaten on 72 from 36 balls at the start of the 14th over. He smashed two sixes off Matthew Forde and was then dropped at long-on off the third delivery before adding two more sixes to reach his maiden T20 hundred in emphatic fashion.

Earlier, West Indies endured a shaky start. Arshdeep Singh bowled Kamil Pooran for 12, while Shimron Hetmyer was run out for five with Iyer playing a role in the dismissal.

Axar Patel then removed Rovman Powell for a three-ball duck as West Indies slipped to 44-3 in the power play.

Hope and Rutherford responded with a partnership of 63 from 35 balls to revive the innings. However, Dhir claimed his maiden T20 International wicket in the 12th over when Hope was caught at midwicket.

Dhir ended with figures of 3-31 from four overs on debut.

West Indies continued to lose wickets through the lower middle order, and only Rutherford’s three sixes helped carry them beyond the 170-run mark.