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Evin Lewis smashes 176, powers West Indies to 356-5 against England in 4th ODI
Writhing with pain, Evin Lewis was stretchered off the field when he was unbeaten on 176.
Published: Sep 27, 2017, 08:41 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 27, 2017, 09:34 PM (IST)
Had the inside-edge not ricocheted on to his ankle, Evin Lewis would have become only the sixth double-centurion in the history of ODI cricket. Writhing with pain, Lewis had to be stretchered off the field when he was unbeaten on 176. Along with captain Jason Holder (77 in 62 balls) he added 168 runs for the fifth wicket. Their blistering knocks powered West Indies to 356 for 5.
The highest score at this ground is New Zealand’s 398, suggesting that the track can be demoralising for the bowlers. Today was just another bad day for them. However, West Indies once were stuttering at 33 for 3. Chris Gayle, Shai Hope, and Marlon Samuels could add a mere 14 runs between them. Chris Woakes was wrecker-in-chief, dismissing all three with disciplined bowling display.
Lewis had scored a stunning half-century in the T20 international, but as he enters the longer format, his vigour somehow fades away. Before this contest he had a solitary hundred and no fifty in 22 ODIs. His magnificent strike rate of 154.9 in T20Is drops below 85 in the ODIs. Perhaps he finds the transition from one format to another difficult.
That, or anything, has nothing to do with his style of play. He can play many roles but not that of a defensive player. He knows attacking and he did remarkably well at The Oval today. Despite losing the top order, Lewis stuck to his area of expertise and reduced the English bowlers to rubble. Credit also goes to Jason Mohammad (46 off 71) who made sure that the belligerent opener gets the most strike. They added 117 for the fourth wicket.
Once Mohammad perished, Holder sensed the opportunity and went neck-and-neck with Lewis. Their counterattack forced the English bowlers to hurl in the arc they wanted. Rovman Powell joined in the fun as well in the closing stages of the innings. Woakes, who had once reduced the West Indies to ruins, ended with figures of 3 for 71. None of the bowlers could maintain an economy below 6.50.
Brief scores:
West Indies 356 for 5 (Evin Lewis 176 retired, Jason Holder 77; Chris Woakes 3 for 71) vs England.