Dhaka- World champions West Indies showed their dominance with denying ICC World XI by huge 72 runs in the Hurricane Relief T20 Challenge under the floodlights at Lord’s in London on Thursday.Win or loss does not come in mind first about the match as the game itself was a great event where the cricketing world came together to raise funds to rebuild cricket facilities across the Caribbean that were damaged by last year’s twin hurricanes — Irma and Maria.
A crowd of approximately 15,000 witnessed an outstanding feat with big-hitting by man-of-the-match left-handed opening batsman Evin Lewis [58 off 26b; 5×4;5×6], wicketkeeper batsman Denesh Ramdin [44* off 25b; 3×4; 3×6] and Marlon Samuels [43 off 22b; 2×4; 4×6] on the way of West Indies collection of 199 for 4 in 20 overs.
Andre Russell [21* off 10b; 3×6] and left-handed all-rounder Chris Gayle [18] were other double figure scorers for the winning side, coming at the crease with bat after winning the toss.
Afghan googly worked well in the game as legbreak Rashid Khan got 2/48 while skipper Shahid Afridi [1/34] and Pakistani spinner Shoaib Malik [1/31] were the other wicket takers for World XI.
Pace bowler Kesrick Williams [3/42], spinner Samuel Badree [2/4] and pace all-rounder Andre Russell [2/32] shared seven wickets to restrict World XI at 127/10 in 16.4 overs.
Sri Lankan pace all-rounder Thisara Perera hit the match’s big figure [61off 37b; 7×4; 3×6] with his 28-ball half-century kept the crowd entertained, but his best efforts faded away as only three other star player — Shoaib Malik [12], Shahid Afridi [11] and New Zealand player MJ McClenaghan [10] — of World XI could reach double digits with poor amounts.
Only Bangladesh player in the match opener Tamim Iqbal [2 off 8b] was caught by Evin Lewis off Andre Russell at 4/1in 1.3 overs, opening the bat for World XI.UNB
