Tilak Varma continues dream run with unbeaten 49 in 3rd T20I, equals Suryakumar Yadav’s record

Young Indian batter Tilak Varma continued his dream run in international cricket with a mature and unbeaten knock of 49 runs in the third T20I against West Indies in Guyana on Tuesday. With his 49*, Tilak Varma became only the second Indian batter after Suryakumar Yadav to register 30+ scores in each of his first three T20I innings.

WI vs IND 3rd T20I: HIGHLIGHTS

India defeated the West Indies by seven wickets in the third Twenty20 International at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. With its first victory, India keeps the five-match series alive at 2-1. Suryakumar Yadav scored 83 and Tilak Varma was unbeaten on 49 to help India reach the 160-run target in 18 overs after Kuldeep Yadav’s three wickets limited West Indies to 159/5 in the first innings.

Tilak Varma (49 off 37 balls) was happy to support his senior Mumbai Indians teammate in their 87-run stand. Tilak missed his second consecutive fifty in his first series as skipper Hardik Pandya hit the winning six (20* off 15). The West Indies are 2-1 up in the five-match series, with the next game set for Saturday in Lauderhill, Florida.

With a tricky total of 160 on the board, India lost debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first over when the 21-year-old skyed one up, attempting to go hard against Obed McCoy. Suryakumar hit a four and a six to start his innings, but India still managed 16 runs off that over.

Shubman Gill was out early yet again, despite hitting his first ball for a four. He scored six runs off 11 balls before being caught at midwicket while attempting to go over the top. Tilak Varma, on the other hand, crossed two lines upon his arrival. He and Suryakumar added 87 runs off 51 balls for the third wicket to completely defeat the hosts. Hardik Pandya entered the crease with a required run rate of less than six. The pair took few risks and finished the run chase in 17.5 overs. Pandya ended the match with a six, leaving Tilak unbeaten on 49 at the end of the non-striker’s innings.