Iyer hits maiden T20I hundred as India overwhelm West Indies in Lucknow opener
Shreyas Iyer scored his first T20 international century and debutant Naman Dhir took three wickets as India beat the West Indies by eight wickets in the first T20I in Lucknow on Tuesday, completing a 172/2 chase in 17.3 overs after West Indies were all out for 171.
Iyer finished unbeaten on 102 off 43 balls to steer the chase and India now lead the five-match series 1-0. The win extended India's T20I winning streak to 10 matches; Iyer walked in during the third over with India 35 for 2 and combined caution with aggressive strokeplay on a surface described as less straightforward than the ODI pitches used earlier in the tour.
The century was Iyer's first in T20 internationals and his highest score in the format, surpassing his previous best of 80 not out off 49 balls against England in Bristol earlier this year. He reached 100 in 42 balls, becoming the fastest Indian to score a T20I hundred against the West Indies, and became the third India captain to record a men's T20I century, joining Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav. The crowd gave him a standing ovation; Iyer raised his helmet, acknowledged the applause and was congratulated by Ishan Kishan, while a few West Indies players also walked up to acknowledge his innings.
Ishan Kishan provided important support at the other end, the pair building a partnership that effectively ended the contest after India lost two early wickets. Once set, Iyer opened up and found the boundary regularly without appearing to lose control, putting the West Indies bowlers increasingly under pressure and finishing the chase comfortably well before the allotted 20 overs.
West Indies posted 171 after a start that featured aggressive intent, Shai Hope coming out attacking and hitting Mayank Yadav for four boundaries in the second over. India responded quickly: captain Iyer introduced Axar Patel into the attack in the third over, Arshdeep Singh bowled Kamil Pooran, and Shimron Hetmyer was run out attempting a single in the sixth over. Axar then cleaned up Rovman Powell to leave the visitors three down before Sherfane Rutherford supplied momentum.
Rutherford made 56 off 34 balls, striking Kuldeep Yadav for two sixes in the ninth over and attacking Axar in the 11th over, but wickets kept falling thereafter. Hope reached fifty before falling for 52 off 37, caught by Axar off Dhir in the 12th over; Kuldeep trapped Roston Chase lbw at 114 for 5 in 12.3 overs; Romario Shepherd hit Dhir for a six before being caught at long-off by Tilak Varma. Ishan Kishan then took an excellent catch at deep midwicket off Kuldeep to dismiss Rutherford. Dhir completed his three-wicket haul by dismissing Shamar Springer, who was caught by Axar at the boundary after hitting the spinner for a six off the previous delivery. Mayank Yadav, returning to the Indian side after an injury lay-off, had an expensive outing but eventually removed Rutherford, who was caught by Dhir at deep square leg, and Axar wrapped up the innings by dismissing Akeal Hosein, caught by Ishan at long-on.
After losing six of his first seven matches as India's T20I captain, Iyer has now led the side to 10 successive victories. His hundred arrived at a pivotal stage of the chase and prevented the West Indies from regaining any momentum in the final phase of the match.
India lead the five-match series 1-0 following the opener in Lucknow.
