Lewis, bowlers help Windies topple World XI

Some power-hitting by Evin Lewis, coupled with some world-class bowling, saw the West Indies best the World XI by a whopping 72 runs in Thursday’s Hurricane Relief T20 match at Lord’s in London.
Windies rocketed to 199 for 4 after being inserted by the ICC World XI, and Lewis smoked a 26-ball 58 at the top of the order, setting the scene for a cameo of 43 from Marlon Samuels.
Wicket-keeper Dinesh Ramdin and another power-hitter, Andre Russell, added an unbeaten 47 for the fifth wicket in just over three overs, to set the World XI a stiff task. Afghanistan’s star spinner Rashid Khan delighted again with 2-48, but the star was England’s speedster Tymal Mills, who conceded only 13 runs off his 13 overs.
Chasing a stiff target, it was never a match for the World XI, who had a nightmare start, losing the dangerous combination of Luke Ronchi and Tamim Iqbal with less than three runs on the board.
The World XI were eventually reduced to 127 all out in 16.4 overs, after the Windies’ bowlers Samuel Badree, Andre Russell, Kesrick Williams, Guyanese Keemo Paul and Carlos Brathwaite ran through the batting order with either two or one wicket apiece. Hard-hitting Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera counterpunched with a brisk fifty, but in vain.
The all-rounder, batting down the order, blazed 61runs from 37 balls, scorching seven fours and three sixes as he helped stage a brief fight-back before being caught and bowled by Williams. Paul bagged the prized wicket of World XI skipper Shahid Afridi, who was out for 11.
In the end, it was a tall order for the World side, who eventually succumbed thanks to some collective skill and class, courtesy of the Windies bowlers, who did well to defend their big total.
The proceeds of this charity match will go towards the restoration of five cricket stadiums across the Caribbean that were damaged during Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year: Ronald Webster Park in Anguilla, Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua, Windsor Park in Dominica, AO Shirley Recreation Ground in British Virgin Islands, and Carib Lumber Ball Park in St. Martin.