Suryakumar Yadav smashed 83 off 44 balls as India beat the West Indies by seven wickets in the third T20 international in Guyana on Tuesday to keep the series alive.
After India lost T20 debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill cheaply in pursuit of 160, Suryakumar took charge in a dazzling innings comprising 10 fours and four sixes.
"Tilak Varma is the second Indian batter after SuryaKumar Yadav to register 30+ scores in each of his first three T20I innings. Two MI buddies in this feat!"????#WIvIND pic.twitter.com/tnp6rhyM4b
— ?a??l c?a?d?ary ?² (@Rahulchaudhrry) August 8, 2023
He eventually fell clipping an Alzarri Joseph full toss to deep backward square leg, but Tilak Varma finished unbeaten on 49 and captain Hardik Pandya hit the winning six with 13 balls to spare.
West Indies skipper Rovman Powell had earlier dragged his side to 159-5 with a quick-fire 40 not out after winning the toss in Providence and choosing to bat.
Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma shine as India pull one back to keep the series alive ??#WIvIND | ?? https://t.co/v1bKUN3ftO pic.twitter.com/By6tBpGVJ2
— ICC (@ICC) August 8, 2023
Brandon King made a run-a-ball 42 while fellow opener Kyle Mayers (25) and Nicholas Pooran (20) also made decent contributions for the hosts.
Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, recalled in place of Ravi Bishnoi, claimed 3-28 to lead the Indian bowling attack. Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar picked up a wicket apiece.
For his breathtaking match-winning knock in the third #WIvIND T20I, Suryakumar Yadav bags the Player of the Match award ?? ??
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 8, 2023
Scorecard ?? https://t.co/3rNZuAiOxH #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/vFQQYFUKOC
India cut West Indies' lead to 2-1 in the five-match series after they lost the opener by four runs followed by Sunday's dramatic two-wicket defeat.
West Indies are aiming to win their first series of two or more matches against India in any format since 2016.
India won the preceding two-test series 1-0 before beating the West Indies 2-1 in the ODIs.
WEST INDIES: Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran (wkt), Rovman Powell (capt), Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy
INDIA: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (capt), Sanju Samson (wkt), Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav