Twitter Reacts As West Indies Decimate World XI In Charity Match

Very few had given World XI even an outside chance of getting the better of reigning WorldT20 champions West Indies and the latter made sure that the predictions remain true. The Carlos Brathwaite-led side absolutely walloped the World XI in the Hurricane Relief Twenty20 Challenge in London.

Shahid Afridi won the toss and decided to bowl only to rue a little later. While the World XI managed to keep Chris Gayle under check, they were torn apart by Evin Lewis. Gayle departed after scoring 18 off 28 balls but Lewis’s whirlwind knock made sure West Indies keep the scoreboard ticking at a healthy pace. The southpaw blasted 58 from 26 balls, which included five sixes and as many fours, to set the tone for the West Indies’ 199 for 4.

There were also notable contributions from Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin and a fine finishing touch from Andre Russell. Samuels scored 43 while Ramdin closed on 44 not out. On the other hand, Russell blasted an unbeaten 21 off 10 balls to take his team close to the 200-run mark. Russell’s knock contained three three sixes off one over from Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan.

West Indies started brightly with the ball. Leg-spinner Samuel Badree claimed two wickets in his first two overs, before ending with figures of four for 2, to all but seal World XI’s fate.  At one stage, the World XI side was reeling at 8 for 4. From there on, there was no way back for the World XI, despite Thisara Perera’s impressive half-century. The Sri Lankan made 61 off 37 balls, hitting three sixes and seven fours in the process, but he was the only player from the World XI line-up to score more than 12 as the West Indies bowlers kept things tight.

And, with Tymal Mills unable to bat, the World XI’s challenge ended when Mitchell McClenaghan became the ninth wicket to fall with the score on 127 in the 17th over.

Result apart, the game was played for a very noble cause. The charity match was to raise funds to rebuild stadia in Anguilla and Dominica ravaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017.

Meanwhile, Twitter was quick to react to the game. Here are some of the messages:

Deserve this RESPCT ??????, @SAfridiOfficial been always an excitement to watch in the feild in any role ?, privileged to play with u , stay blessed https://t.co/uUh58NzotX

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) May 31, 2018

Thank you ICC for providing me the opportunity of contributing to #CricketRelief cause. It was a real honour for me and a memory I'll cherish for long. On behalf of my Foundation I'm making a donation 20000$ for the Hurricane victims in Caribbean. #HopeNotOut

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) May 31, 2018

Salute to the legend @SAfridiOfficial best place to end your international career at the home of cricket for a great cause. God bless

— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) May 31, 2018

Was a pleasure to have played and shared the dressing room with you Lala. You created a brand name in cricket & your name will live on forever iA. Thank you @SAfridiOfficial for the wonderful memories on and off the field. Best of luck brother.

— Azhar Mahmood (@AzharMahmood11) May 31, 2018

Thank you @SAfridiOfficial for the great time that we spent together in the dressing room. It’s an honour for me to have played along wd you. U wl always be an inspiration 4 the coming generations. Good luck for @SAFoundationN n ur future endeavours

— Umar Gul (@mdk_gul) May 31, 2018

No live telecast for an international game that is being played at Lord's and is also Shahid Afridi's comeback game. DISGRACE! @ICC @Sony

— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) May 31, 2018

KKR fans, are you okay watching Russell hit Rashid Khan for 3 sixes in an over? #ICCXIvWI

— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) May 31, 2018

Nasser Hussain, on commentary, at first slip for the opening over. This is why these games – wonderful as they are – should never have international status. #WIvRoW pic.twitter.com/T3caRzOEEA

— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) May 31, 2018

https://twitter.com/imPakistaniLAD/status/1002235297562849280

Chris Gayle hit on the grill by a Tymal Mills bouncer, Shahid Afridi comes up to Gayle and says "keep an eye on the ball please" #CricketRelief

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) May 31, 2018

A guard of honour for Boom Boom @SAfridiOfficial in his final international match! #CricketRelief pic.twitter.com/pjsHPM8zgZ

— ICC (@ICC) May 31, 2018