T20 International is among the most followed formats of international cricket as cricket fans are drawn to its shortest nature. The fans are elated due to this factor of the game and also turn up in huge numbers to watch as well as support their favorite team as well as players. If one is talking about T20 cricket, West Indies is certainly a team who seems to have cracked the code of this format initially.
West Indies cricket had been the center stage for T20 cricket for a long time and have also meanwhile won two World Cups in the process, one in the year 2012 and the second one in 2016. Over the years, the Windies side have given a lot of T20 legends who have embraced the game of cricket. Let us now look at the top 3 highest opening partnerships by West Indies in T20I cricket:
1. 145 – Chris Gayle and Devon Smith vs SA in 2007 at Johannesburg
One of the finest T20 innings that one will ever see came from two of the best T20 players, Chris Gayle and Devon Smith. It was the first game in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in South Africa when the duo of Gayle and Smith kickstarted the tournament in a most devastating fashion.
Both these batters combined together to stitch the highest stand of 145 runs for the Windies in the shortest format of the game. Unfortunately, West Indies lost the game against South Africa.
2. 133 – Andre Fletcher and Chris Gayle vs AUS in 2009 at The Oval
Chris Gayle appears on the list, this time around with Andre Fletcher, and this time in World Cup 2009. Again in the first match of the tournament, the duo combined together to help West Indies win the match by seven wickets.
Both these batters combined together to stitch together a partnership of 133 runs, which helped West Indies chase down a total of 172 runs.
3. 133 – Evin Lewis and Lendl Simmons vs IRE in 2020 at Basseterre
Another greatest partnership came from Evin Lewis and Lendl Simmons, who were at their best against Ireland. It was in 2020 when the duo scored an impeccable opening partnership of 133 runs.
In a chase of 139 runs, the duo combined together and registered a match-winning partnership with the likes of Lewis scoring 46 runs and Lendl Simmons chipped in with a match-winning scoring of 91 runs.