Virat Kohli termed it as “another video game innings” on Twitter, and with solid reason: Suryakumar Yadav bashed 111 unbeaten runs out of the team’s total of 191, on the way crashing 11 of the 18 boundaries India hit, and seven of their nine sixes, while facing just 51 balls. In a terrific display of creative and fearless T20 hitting typical of him, Suryakumar helped India plunder 72 off the last five overs. This, despite not getting to face a single delivery in the final over, where Tim Southee got a hat-trick.
Hardik Pandya just watched from the other end as Suryakumar toyed with an international bowling line-up which he made look ordinary. And with 192 to get, New Zealand’s chase only kept crawling from the start: their powerplay fetched just 32 runs with only three boundaries, laying perhaps the perfect foundation for them to flounder; and at 85 for 3 after 12 overs with Glenn Phillips gone, the required run rate of above 13 an over meant the match was all but decided.
Suryakumar defies logic, the bowling, and everything else
In what is turning out to be a defining year for him – he is already the highest run-getter in T20Is in 2022 – Suryakumar’s second T20I century of the year was perhaps different only in that it came in a winning cause.Suryakumar brought out his trademark scoop for four over the wicketkeeper’s head just fourth ball despite being beaten for two consecutive deliveries before it. Typical T20 stuff: swing and a miss, but not bothered about next ball.
Ishan Kishan kept struggling after Rishabh Pant fell for a low score for which he had jostled himself, but Suryakumar knew he had to go only one way, especially with rain in the air. The rest of India’s batting scored 69 in as many deliveries – there were 11 extras too in the total – and that told the story of how many miles ahead Suryakumar was of his team-mates.
His first six came off Ish Sodhi, as he fetched a ball from wide outside off only to slog sweep and deposit it over fine leg. Then came the lofts over the off side: Mitchell Santner’s first ball off the 11th over was scythed behind point, and Ish Sodhi’s first of the 12th was placed to deep extra cover with high elbows.
But Suryakumar had reserved special treatment for Lockie Ferguson: with eight overs to go and India’s total still under a hundred, he drove and whipped the fast bowler for four and six, respectively. That was Act 1 of Suryakumar vs Ferguson. (ESPN)