Evin Lewis struck seven sixes in 71 off 35 balls, and his teammates added eight more maximums as West Indies crushed South Africa by eight wickets with five overs to spare in the first T20 International on Saturday afternoon in Grenada.
Rassie van der Dussen made 56* in South Africa’s 160-6, a total that proved very inadequate for West Indies band of power-hitters.
Lewis and Andre Fletcher gave West Indies a rousing start of 85 in seven overs, hitting the South African bowlers to all parts of the outfield.
Fletcher was run out for 30 off 19 balls (3x4s, 2x6s), after Lungi Ngidi pulled off a direct hit at the non-striker’s end.
T20 cricket’s highest runscorer Chris Gayle joined Lewis and they added 39 for the second wicket, before Lewis was caught at long-off by David Miller off left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.
During the innings, left-hander Lewis, who brought up his fifty off 22 balls, crossed 1,000 T20 International runs.
Gayle and fellow Jamaican Andre Russell then sealed off the run-chase with both hitting three sixes each. Gayle ended on 32* off 24, and Russell 23* off 12.
van der Dussen had earlier given the tourists a total to work with, hitting four fours and two sixes off 38 balls.
The in-form Quinton de Kock was aggressive at the top, scoring 37 off 24 and skipper Temba Bavuma got to 22 off 20, but no other batsman got going.
Notably, South Africa struck just five sixes in their innings, compared to West Indies’ 15.
Left-arm spinner Fabian Allen picked up 2-18 off four overs and veteran Dwayne Bravo 2-30 off his allotment.
Game two in the five-match series is set for Sunday at the same venue from 14:00h.