Yadav powers India to big win despite Southee hat-trick

New Zealand’s Tim Southee claimed a hat-trick, but Suryakumar Yadav smashed a blistering hundred to help secure India’s comprehensive 65-run victory in the second Twenty20 International at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.

Yadav, the world’s top-ranked T20 batter, clobbered seven sixes and 11 fours in his unbeaten 111 off 51 balls to power India to a commanding 191-6 after being put into bat.

New Zealand finished on 126, with skipper Kane Williamson (61) supplying half of the runs before they were bundled out in 18.5 overs.

After Friday’s series opener in Wellington had been washed out, Williamson elected to field in the second match, which was also rain-affected.

India were 50-1 in the seventh over when the players were forced off the field.

The visitors sent in Rishabh Pant (6) to open the innings with fellow left-hander Ishan Kissan (36), but the ploy did not work.

Kissan could not really convert his start, and Shreyas Iyer (13) departed hit-wicket.

Yadav was irrepressible at the other end, though, playing audacious shots all around the ground and making a mockery of New Zealand’s field settings.

The right-hander raced to a 49ball hundred, but was kept away from the strike in the eventful final over from Southee.

Yadav looked on as the seamer conceded four runs in his first two deliveries before dismissing Hardik Pandya, Deepak Hooda and Washington Sundar in successive balls.

It was Southee’s second hattrick in T20 Internationals, having also achieved the feat against Pakistan in 2010.