(Sportmax) Evin Lewis played a starring role as West Indies mounted their second-highest T20I score in a 62-run victory over Ireland on Sunday.
West Indies captain Shai Hope lauded the work of Evin Lewis after the batter put on a superb display in a big win over Ireland.
Lewis was named Player of the Match after his 91 propelled West Indies to their second-highest T20I score of 256-6.
It was a target Ireland never looked likely to chase down, as they succumbed to a 62-run defeat.
The first two matches of the three-game series were abandoned due to weather, but Hope was delighted with the work of his team on Sunday, singling out opener Lewis for praise.
“It means a lot,” said Hope, whose team were hammered in their recent white-ball series against England.
“We are really trying to build a strong team. Just trying to continue that, trying to be as consistent as possible and win as many games as possible.
“That series [against England] was tough, so it’s nice to take something back to the Caribbean.
“If you get in, it is difficult to stop you, so whenever you get a start, try and capitalise and go as big as you can. He [Lewis] is a quality striker and when he is going, he is hard to stop.
“Hopefully he can continue that run-scoring and hopefully he can get a good start against Australia [in July].”
Lewis, who plundered eight of the Windies’ 23 sixes, was ably supported by Hope (51) and debutant Keacy Carty, who struck an unbeaten 49.
Matthew Humphreys (2-16) ended Lewis’ stand, just two balls after dismissing Rovman Powell for two.
“A couple of positives in there, tough day overall,” said Ireland captain Paul Stirling.
“Special mention to Humphreys – one of the best spells in context in T20 cricket for us. He bowled both ends, had the wind against him, had left-handers in – it was incredible. It was tough bowling from both ends for the other lads. ”
Ross Adair (48) and Harry Tector (38) gave Ireland hope, but the hosts failed to recover following the dismissal of the duo in the space of an over.
Stirling added: “The message was to give it everything we had. We gave it our best shot but we fell short in all three facets.”
