Spectators were thrilled to watch the West Indies team canter to a win in the first of five Twenty20 matches in the Colonial General insurance series against South Africa in Grenada. The series was originally scheduled for Trinidad & Tobago, however, the twin island republic’s borders are still closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Sporting teams have been largely playing without spectators present, however, with vaccination programmes well underway in some of the Caribbean islands, Cricket West Indies worked with the Governments in St Lucia, for the just concluded Test Series, and now Grenada, to allow fully vaccinated spectators into the grounds.
The handful of fans, which included Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. The Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, could be heard cheering on each wicket taken, during the Proteas’ knock. West Indies’ Captain Kieron Pollard had won the toss on an overcast day. Rain interrupted the first innings, mostly by squally showers from passing clouds. After 20 overs, the West Indies bowlers, led by Fabian Allen and veteran Dwayne Bravo with two wickets each, had pegged back the South Africans to 160 for 6. Earlier in the innings, the visitors seemed to have been heading close to 200 runs on a batting-friendly pitch.
When Evin Lewis and Grenadian Andre Fletcher took their turn at bat, they showed they meant business early in the innings. According to a South Africa journalist posing a question to their captain Temba Bavuma after the match, “It looks like they came with too many booming bats.” Indeed, Lewis top scored with 71 off just 35 balls and reached the milestone of 1,000 T20I runs. Here he describes the innings.
Chris Gayle, batting at number 3, contributed 32 runs off 24 balls, to the total of 161 for 2. Victory was sealed with a 6 by Andre Russell off the last bowl of the 15th over.
West Indies won by 8 wickets with 30 balls to spare. Click here for the full scorecard.
After the match, Chris Gayle spoke with Cricket West Indies media “It’s good to have the fans back. It wasn’t much but the few we had, it was fantastic,” said Gayle “Hopefully we can get a bigger crowd tomorrow” citing the quality players they would see.
Dates for the remaining four matches are June 27, June 29, July 1 and July 3. Walk with your vaccination card, a picture ID and oh…..you can bring your coolers since no vendors are allowed.