Twitter Reactions: Johnson Charles’ blitzkrieg helps West Indies post their highest T20I total against South Africa

After taking a 1-0 lead in the first T20I, West Indies locked horns with South Africa once again in the second T20I on Sunday, March 26 at SuperSport Park in Centurion. South Africa Captain Aiden Markram won the toss and invited the West Indies to bat first.

The decision was vindicated by Wayne Parnell who dismissed the dangerous Brandon King on the third ball of the first over of the game. Little did South Africa know that they will regret dismissing King so early at the end of the first innings, as the next batter, Johnson Charles, left their bowlers begging for mercy with his mind-boggling knock.

Charles walked to the crease and wasted no time as he got off the mark with consecutive boundaries against Parnell on the last two balls of the over. The 34-year-old came out all guns blazing and unleashed his beast mode on the Proteas.

He brought up his fifty off just 23 balls and got good support from Kyle Mayers as the duo added 135 for the second wicket in just 58 balls. The partnership ended as Marco Jansen dismissed Kyle Mayers for a well-made 51 off 27 balls.

However, Charles continued his onslaught from the other end and brought the South African attack down to their knees. He brought up his hundred in 39 balls and registered the fastest hundred by a West Indian and the joint second-fastest in T20Is.

West Indies posted 258/5 in the first innings

He was finally dismissed on 118 off 46 balls smacking ten fours and 11 sixes in his innings. After his dismissal, captain Rovman Powell played a cameo of 28 off 19 balls. However, it was Romario Shepherd who propelled the Windies’ total past 250 with his stupendous knock of 41* off 18 balls with the help of one four and four sixes in his innings.

Odean Smith also contributed with 11* off 5 balls as West Indies finished their innings on 258/5 in their allotted 20 overs which is their highest total in T20Is. Marco Jansen was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa as he picked 3/52 in his four overs while Wayne Parnell also picked up two wickets.

West Indies clobbered a massive 22 sixes in their innings which is the joint-highest in a T20I innings. 

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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