In the first International Masters League (IML) at the DY Patil Sports Stadium, Lendl Simmons’ aggressive 44-ball unbeaten 94 overcame Shane Watson’s 48-ball century to enable the West Indies Masters to surpass the Australia Masters by 7 wickets.

After West Indian batting legend Brian Lara chose to field after winning the toss, Watson’s hallmark strokes were played for the sizable stadium audience, continuing the IML’s history of high-scoring games.

Despite treating the West Indies bowlers with contempt, the 43-year-old Watson never gave the impression that he had stopped playing. He reached his half-century off only 27 balls and took another 21 deliveries to get his next fifty. Watson also participated in a few significant alliances throughout this period, which helped to establish the tone for the enormous aim.

Prior to completing an 83-run stand for the second wicket with Callum Ferguson (13 off 15), Watson began the innings with a 34-run partnership with Ben Dunk (15 off 11 balls). Additionally, he and Daniel Christian (32 off 15) had a 54-run third-wicket partnership that helped the Australians reach their massive total.

Watson made sure to stay in the middle and gave the Australian innings the boost it needed even though he lost his partners at the other end. In order to squeeze 21 runs from the ninth over of their innings, he particularly liked left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, hitting him over the fence for a handful of sixes and an equal amount of fours.

Following a reprieve on 80 after being dropped by Ashley Nurse, Watson finally fell victim to the same bowler, but not before completing his task with a 52-ball 107 that included nine fours and an equal number of sixes.

Jerome Taylor and Ravi Rampaul both claimed two wickets, but Nurse was the most effective of the Windies bowlers with scores of 3-16.

The legendary Brian Lara helped with a 21-ball 33 and, more significantly, set the tone with a 99-run third-wicket partnership with Simmons. In response, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Smith smashed fast fifties to lead the West Indies Masters chase.

Prior to Simmons taking control of the match with a bold half-century, Smith led the assault with a sophisticated 29-ball 51, driven by 10 boundaries and a six, after opening the batting alongside the dangerous Chris Gayle, who was dismissed for a 12-ball 11.

Chadwick Walton (23 not out off 11 balls) and Simmons, who needed 38 off the last three overs, smashed three boundaries off Daniel Christian to cut the lead by 17 runs before finishing the process with four balls remaining and a barrage of boundaries.

Brief Scores: West Indies Masters (Lendl Simmons 94 not out, Dwayne Smith 51, Brian Lara 33, Chadwick Walton 23 not out) defeated Australia Masters 216/8 (Shane Watson 107, Daniel Christian 32; Ashley Nurse 3/16, Ravi Rampaul 2/23) by 7 wickets.