Evin Lewis Destroys Sri Lanka With A Belligerent 61-Ball 102* On ODI Comeback After 3 Years
Evin Lewis left a mark on his ODI comeback (Source: @windiescricket/X.com)
West Indies' explosive opener Evin Lewis single-handedly carried his team to an emphatic win over Sri Lanka in the third ODI on October 26. Chasing a challenging 195-run DLS target, Lewis unleashed carnage at the top to score a sublime ton in his very first ODI match after a three-year-long hiatus.
With the three-game ODI series already lost against Sri Lanka, West Indies came out in the third ODI to play for their pride. Rain interruptions once again hampered the proceedings as the game had to be reduced to 23 overs per side. Sri Lanka scored 156/3 as Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis contributed with a fifty each. However, the DLS target swelled to 195 for the visitors, thus setting up the stage for a mouth-watering finish.
Evin Lewis: The Comeback King!
Brandon King and Evin Lewis had a stable start to the chase with a 35-run powerplay. Lewis reached his fifty in 34 balls, and he quickly shifted gears. Struggling with cramps, the batter took Charith Asalanka to the cleaners with a 14-run over before Rutherford joined him to slam Theekshana for 18 runs in the 19th over.
With five runs needed off seven balls, Lewis hammered a lofted six to finish the game in style and get to his 100 in a dramatic fashion. He punched the air in relief whilst struggling with cramps, which reflects on his grit and determination.
This ODI marked Evin Lewis’ comeback to the 50-over format after 2021, and he made it count with a memorable knock. With that, West Indies avoided a whitewash to wrap up the three-game ODI series with a 2-1 defeat.
Evin Lewis Makes A Strong Case For England Series
West Indies are set to host England next for a three-game ODI and five-game T20I series starting from October 31 and Evin Lewis’ successful ODI comeback might promote his inclusion in this upcoming tour as well. West Indies might recall a few senior rested players which will complicate the selection process. However, Lewis’ ton against Sri Lanka will undoubtedly add brownie points to his potential selection.