Sensational Surya powers India to a convincing win
NEW DELHI: For over a year now, Suryakumar Yadav has earned the moniker of a 360-degree batter, capable of accessing pockets in the field that a conventional batter wouldn’t. On Sunday, he buttressed his skyrocketing reputation by producing a masterclass of T20 batting, plundering an unbeaten 111 off 51 balls to guide India to a 65-run win in the second T20I against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui.
Coming in at No 3 at the fall of Rishabh Pant in the sixth over, Surya played the field with trademark efficiency. He favoured the region between square leg and fine leg initially, and when Kane Williamson sent an extra man to the leg side, Surya went over cover, showing his range as well as game awareness.
With skipper Hardik Pandya, he added 82 runs off 41 balls, scoring 68 of those in 28 balls. The 32-year-old cut loose in the 17th over, bowled by Tim Southee.
The duo took the experienced bowler apart with 17 runs, Surya hitting a six off the first ball and following it up with a couple of fours.
The next over went for 18 runs as Surya hit pacer Adam Milne for a straight six, and when the bowler overcompensated with his line, Surya casually flicked him for another six.
Lockie Ferguson, among the fastest bowlers around, was the next to face the heat, leaking 22 runs in the 19th over. Ferguson began the over by bowling outside off with the third man inside the ring, and Surya simply opened up his bat to hit a boundary and enter the 90s.
A ball later, Ferguson went outside off again, pulling the length back a bit. Surya brought out the cut to hit another boundary over point. Next, the bowler went full outside off but Surya lofted him over cover for four to bring up his second T20I ton.
His second fifty took just 17 balls and completely turned the momentum India’s way.
Ferguson tried a short ball next, and Surya played the ramp shot over the wicketkeeper’s head for four.
The last ball was full and outside off, and Surya used the width to chance his arms, sending into the stands for his seventh six.
There was some late drama as Southee, bowling the final over, removed Pandya, Deepak Hooda, and Washington Sundar off successive balls to claim his second T20I hat-trick. India posted 191/6 though Surya didn’t get the strike in that over.
Test cap ‘coming soon’
Fresh from another matchwinning knock, Surya believes that a Test call-up is on its way. “It’s coming. It’ll happen soon,” the batter said when asked about his Test ambitions.
Surya has been playing firstclass cricket for Mumbai since 2010 and has scored 5326 runs in 77 matches. He last played a first-class match in February 2020.
“When we start playing cricket, we start with the red ball. I have also played firstclass cricket for Mumbai. I have a fair idea about the Test format and I enjoy playing the long format also. Hopefully, I will get the Test cap soon,” he added.
India 191/6 in 20 overs (S Yadav 111*; T Southee 3/34). New Zealand 126 in 18.5 overs (K Williamson 61; D Hooda 4/10, Y Chahal 2/26). by 65 runs.