Evin Lewis hits T20 tonne to guide side to victory
Left-hander Evin Lewis lashed a spectacular unbeaten hundred to end his barren run as his Comilla Victorians thrashed West Indies teammate Carlos Brathwaite’s Khulna Titans by 80 runs in the Bangladesh Premier League here yesterday.
Sent in at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Victorians piled up an imposing 237 for five off their 20 overs, with Lewis finishing on 109 not out off 49 balls, to mark his fourth T20 century.
Imrul Kayes chipped in with 39 while Shamsur Rahman got 28 and opener Tamim Iqbal, 25, but it was Lewis who took centre stage in an innings laced with five fours and 10 sixes.
In reply, Brathwaite struck 22 off 13 deliveries and opener Brendan Taylor top-scored with 50 off 33 balls but Titans limped to 157 all out with seven balls left in the innings.
Pakistani seamer Wahab Riaz, who plies his trade in the Caribbean Premier League for Barbados Tridents, bowled brilliantly to take three for 14 while fellow countryman and veteran leg-spinner, Shahid Afridi, ended with three for 27.
Lewis, who had managed only 79 runs from his four previous innings, returned to form in style, adding 58 for the first wicket with Tamim and a further 97 for the third with Imrul.
In the other game, Chris Gayle continued to struggle but South African AB de Villiers produced a stunning 50-ball unbeaten 100 to fire Rangpur Riders to a thrilling eight wicket over the star-studded Dhaka Dynamites.
Chasing a challenging 187, Riders were slumping at five for two in the second over, with Gayle removed by a combination of his West Indies teammates – caught at mid-on by Sunil Narine off seamer Andre Russell.
But de Villiers – who smacked eight fours and six sixes – and England’s Alex Hales, who blasted 85 not out from 53 balls, put on an astonishing 184 for the second wicket to put Riders over the line.
Russell finished with two for 30 while off-spinner Narine went wicket-less from his four overs which cost 45 runs.
West Indies limited overs star Kieron Pollard had earlier struck 37 from 23 balls while Narine added 28 as Dynamites, opting to bat first, reached 186 for six off their 20 overs.