Shreyas Iyer ended his recent run of low scores in spectacular fashion, smashing his maiden T20I century to guide India to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over West Indies at the Ekana Stadium on Tuesday.
The Indian captain produced an unbeaten 102 from just 43 deliveries, hitting 10 fours and six sixes as the hosts chased down 172 with 5.2 overs remaining.
Shreyas entered the series without a half-century in his previous 10 T20I innings, but responded with a match-winning knock when India needed it.
The chase had started poorly, with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson dismissed cheaply to leave India struggling at 35 for two. Shreyas quickly changed the momentum, striking Shamar Joseph for three consecutive boundaries in the final over of the PowerPlay.
He continued to attack while Ishan Kishan provided support at the other end. Shreyas used his movement at the crease effectively, finding gaps and repeatedly putting the West Indies bowlers under pressure. He struck three successive fours off Romario Shepherd in the ninth over before reaching his half-century from 28 balls.
The India skipper then accelerated dramatically, needing only another 15 deliveries to score his next 52 runs. Akeal Hosein was struck for a six and a four over cover before Shreyas took apart Matthew Forde in the 14th over, scoring 23 runs, including three sixes.
He completed both his century and India’s victory by launching Roston Chase down the ground.
Earlier, India’s spinners had played a major role in restricting West Indies to 171. Debutant Naman Dhir claimed three wickets for 31 runs, while Axar Patel finished with two for 26.
Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford scored half-centuries for the visitors. Axar’s double-wicket maiden late in the PowerPlay left West Indies at 44 for three before Hope and Rutherford rebuilt the innings with a 63-run partnership.
However, Dhir and Kuldeep helped trigger another collapse as West Indies slipped from 107 for three to 135 for eight.
Rutherford’s late hitting pushed the visitors to a competitive total, but it proved insufficient as Shreyas delivered a dominant captain’s innings to complete a comfortable Indian victory.
