Watch: Kyle Mayers played a nonchalant no-look flick-pull for six off the first ball of Shardul Thakur’s spell in the second ODI between West Indies and India at the Kensington Oval yesterday (July 29).

West Indies broke a four-year-long jinx when they beat India in the second ODI of the ongoing series in Barbados. Having won the toss, they elected to field first and put India in.

The Indian openers added 90, but the first wicket paved way for a procession. The middle order fell to Gudakesh Motie’s spin and Romario Shepherd’s short balls, and the lower order could not rise to the occasion. India were bundled out for 181.

Kyle Mayers and Brandon King then came out to open the innings for the hosts, and added 53 in 8.2 overs. Mayers was the first to go when he tried to flick a Shardul Thakur short ball on his hips over short fine leg but could only manage to find the fielder.

Just two balls before his dismissal, he had attempted and succeeded at a similar, albeit even more outrageous shot. It was Thakur’s first ball of the match and was bowled around the hips of Mayers.

Mayers has made a name for himself for playing outrageously memorable shots, particularly off the back foot. On this occasion, he shuffled slightly inside the line of the ball, and flick-pulled it with a helicopter-like motion of the bat, all without looking where the ball went, for he knew it was destined to go over the square leg stands, as it did.

Mayers’ 28-ball 36 provided the West Indies with the kind of impetus they needed upfront. They won the game by six wickets with more than 13 overs remaining.

Watch Mayers play a no-look flick-pull for six off Shardul Thakur:

 

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