WI vs SA 1st T20I Commentary - St George's (26 June 2021)

Eased down to mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Smashed! Full ball, on middle. Andre Russell gets low and slogs it over mid-wicket for a biggie. That's gone on the second tier.

Short ball, on middle. Andre Russell pulls it on the toes towards square leg for a single.

Another short ball, on off. Gayle half-pulls it to mid-wicket for a single. Just 6 to win for West Indies.

SWING AND A MISS! A back of a length ball, outside off. Russell slashes but misses.

SIX! West Indies win by 8 wickets. A length ball, outside off. Andre Russell gets low and drags it over mid-wicket for a six. 

SIX! Smoked! Short ball, on middle. Gayle rocks back and whacks it over mid-wicket for a biggie.

WIDE! Goes over the wicket and spills this over the tramline outside off.

FOUR! 20 runs more to win! Goes fuller, on off. Gayle heaves it over the bowler's head towards long on for a boundary.

Loopy ball, on middle. Driven to mid on.

Goes for the pull again, but mistimes it in the vacant square region for a single.

Outside off. Punched off the back foot to covers.

FOUR! Whacked! Tosses it up, on middle. Russell goes on knee and slogs it between mid-wicket and square leg for a boundary.

SIX! What a way to get underway! That's out of the ground! Short ball, on middle. Andre Russell whacks it over square leg for a biggie. 

Another short ball, outside off. Russell looks to pull but misses.

Again same line, same length. Andre Russell misses his pull.

3 dots on the trot! Another short ball, slower, outside off. Andre Russell misses his pull.

4 dots on the trot! Good comeback from Rabada. Another slower short ball, outside off. Russ misses his pull.

Good comeback by Kagiso Rabada after getting hit for the six! Short ball, outside off. Russ misses his pull.

CHANCE! A loopy ball, outside off. Gayle cuts it to point and runs across. The fielder collects the ball and has a shy at the striker's end and appeals for the run out. It is referred upstairs but replays show that de Kock dislodged the bails before the throw came! Costly, costly miss.

SIX! Banged! Floated ball, on middle. Lewis gets on knee and slogs it over mid-wicket for a biggie.

On middle. Lewis paddles it to square leg for one.

WIDE! Shamsi spills it down the leg side. Gale looks to paddle it but misses.

Cut down to sweeper cover for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Evin Lewis departs for a well-made 71 of just 35 balls! Might have done his job! A loopy ball, on middle. Evin Lewis looks to go downtown but gets the toe end of the bat. The ball lobs in the air towards long off where David Miller runs back and takes a wonderful catch. Both set batsmen gone. Do South Africa have a glimmer of hope? West Indies need 37 from 49 balls.

On middle. Blocked out.

SIX! The Universe Boss has arrived! Floated on middle. Gayle lofts it over the bowler's head for a biggie.

SIX! Back-to-back sixes! Short ball, around middle and leg. Gayle stands tall and pulls it over mid-wicket for a biggie.

Outside off. Dabbed to point for one.

Tossed up, outside off. Lewis cuts it to the point fielder.

SIX! Dispatched! 19 already off this over! Floated on middle. Lewis stands tall and lofts it straight down the ground for a biggie.

In the air but safe! Another loopy ball, outside off. Lewis looks to go over the covers but doesn't middle it. The ball rolls over in the air and in the vacant cover region. Two taken.

On middle. Pushed to covers.

BEATEN! Googly, on middle. Gayle lunges forward to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Loopy ball, on off. Gayle pushes it to covers and takes a single.

Fractionally short, on middle. Lewis punches it off the back foot to covers for a single.

Flatter, on off. Pushed to covers.

  Fuller ball, on off. Tapped to point.

Fuller, outside off. This is driven to covers.

Full ball, on middle. Driven to mid on for a single.

Length ball, outside off. Gayle leaves it alone for the keeper to collect.

On a length ball, outside off. Gayle taps it to point.

Fuller and on the pads. Gayle flicks it to square leg for a single.

Length ball, on middle. Blocked out.

OUT! RUN OUT OFF A WIDE! The Proteas finally break the opening partnership of 86. And good awareness by Ngidi as well! This is bowled on the pads, Fletcher makes room and looks to sweep but misses. The ball spins away and rolls to Lungi Ngidi at short fine leg. Now, Fletcher is looking at the ball and by that time, Lewis has aready called him through for the run. Fletcher starts to run now, but by then, Ngidi has fired a throw at the bowler's end. It hits the stumps and the run out appeal is referred upstairs. Replays show that Fletcher's bat is short! Perhaps a bit late, but a breakthrough nevertheless. West Indies need 75 more from 78 balls.

Outside off, punched towards sweeper cover for a single.

Floated, around off, defended watchfully.

This is around middle, nudged to the leg side.

Fuller, around middle, Chris Gayle pushes it towards long off for a single to get off the mark.

Short, outside off, cut through point for one more.

Landed outside off, Gayle err... lets it go!

Length ball, outside off. Dabs it to third man for a single.

Another length ball, outside off. Lewis cuts it to sweeper cover for a single.

Eased down to long on for a single.

Overthrows! Fuller, on off. Lewis squeezes it out to mid-wicket. Now, Andre Fletcher wants the second, but is sent back. The fielder, Temba Bavuma comes charging in and fires a throw to the keeper, Quinton de Kock. However, de Kock fails to collect and the ball hits the stumps. That causes a deflection to the other side and the batsmen take the second.

SIX! What a way to bring up your 50 and that too in just 22 balls! A fuller ball, on middle. Evin Lewis lofts it straight down the ground for a biggie. Will want to see his side home now.

 Around off, pushed to the bowler.

Flatter and outside off. Andre Fletcher cuts it straight to the point fielder.

Darted on the pads. This is flicked on the leg side.

FOUR! Well Played! Loopy ball, outside off. Andre Fletcher drives it through covers for a boundary.

 FOUR! Consecutive boundaries! Another loopy ball, outside off. Fletcher lofts it towards the vacant cover region for a boundary

Darted on the pads. This is flicked to mid-wicket.

WIDE! Spills it down the leg side. Andre Fletcher misses his flick. Wide called.

Loopy ball, on middle. Andre Fletcher flicks it to mid-wicket and takes a single. End of the Powerplay, West Indies are 73-0.

SIX! Hammered! The pounding continues. Short ball, on middle. Fletcher pulls it towards the square leg fence, where Reeza Hendricks leaps for the catch, almost takes it but then falls over the ropes. Would have been an absolute stunner.

FOUR! Shot of the day! A fuller length delivery, outside off. Andre Fletcher drives it on one knee, through point for four.

Short ball, on middle. Ducked under.

Fuller ball, outside off. Andre Fletcher drags it to mid off for a single.

Fuller ball, outside off. Lewis smashes it towards the mid on fielder, Temba Bavuma, who sees Fletcher out of his line and has a shy at the bowler's end and hits the stumps. The run out appeal is taken upstairs but replays show that Fletcher had his bat down in time when the bails went off.

On middle. Defended out on the off side.

FOUR! Welcome into the attack, says Evin Lewis! A fuller ball, on middle. Lewis drives it uppishly but wide of mid on for a boundary.

FOUR! Consecutive boundaries! A back of a length ball, on leg. Lewis helps it past short fine leg for another boundary.

Ouch! That must be hurting to Evin Lewis! A pacy length delivery, on middle. Lewis looks to pull but misses. The ball rolls through and hits Lewis on the box. He is in agony and the physio is out for a quick check-up.

SWING AND A MISS! Tad fuller, outside off. Lewis swings his blade but misses to connect it.

SIX! Another short ball, another boundary! Stand-and-deliver stuff from Evin Lewis! A short ball, on off. Lewis stands tall and pulls it over mid-wicket for a biggie.

SIX! Don't bowl short to Evin Lewis, he will dispatched everything in that arc. Another short delivery, on middle. Lewis smokes it in front of square on the leg side for a six. Big over for West Indies, 20 off it!

 Back of a length and on off, Lewis guides it through point for one.

SIX! Fletcher joins the party as well! A back of a length ball, on off. Fletcher pulls it over mid-wicket for a six.

Fuller and on off. Andre Fletcher taps it to short third man.

Another fuller length delivery, outside off. Fletcher chops it wide of short third man for a single.

Full and on middle. Lewis flicks it to mid-wicket.

LEG BYE! Full ball, on leg. 150 kph. Lewis misses his flick. The ball rolls over to the leg side and a leg bye is taken.

Starts with a quick short ball, on middle. Evin Lewis looks to pull but connects with thin air.

A good length ball, on middle. Lewis blocks it out.

FOUR! Fearless!  A length ball, outside off. Picks up the length quickly, gets into position and pulls it to mid-wicket for a boundary.

FOUR! Consecutive boundaries! Length ball, around leg. Lewis tickles it past short fine leg for a boundary.

SIX! Dispatched! Another short ball, on middle. Evin Lewis gets on top of the bounce and pulls it over square leg for a biggie.

Fuller and on middle. This is driven to mid on for a quick single. 15 off the over.

Fuller, around middle, a bit of flight, respectfully pushed back to the bowler.

On middle and leg, Andre Fletcher nudges it to the leg side.

Fractionally short, outside off, slapped straight to point.

Flatter and fuller outside off, Fletcher pushes it to point this time and crosses over for a single. West Indies and the run chase are underway.

SIX! PUMMELED! There goes Lewis. Boy, he does not even need a sighter. Short, around middle and leg, Evin Lewis rocks back and pulls it over mid-wicket! 154 more needed from 115 balls.

Around off, Lewis pushes it through mid off to end the over with a run.