Star cricketer Tilak Varma smashed an unbeaten 51 off just 26 deliveries to power India to a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20I in Christchurch on Saturday, October 24, steering the visitors home with one delivery to spare after they had slumped to 70/5.
Tilak found a reliable partner in Nitish Kumar Reddy, who hammered an unbeaten 26 off just 13 deliveries, as the duo mounted a brilliant counterattack to chase down the 181-run target.
Their unbeaten seventh-wicket stand transformed the game, guiding India to 181/6 in the final over to seal a thrilling win.
Tilak smashed six boundaries and a six in his match-winning innings, reaching his fifty off just 25 deliveries. Reddy complemented him with a boundary and a six as the
duo added an unbeaten 69 runs off just 30 balls to script a memorable comeback victory over New Zealand.
India’s chase looked in serious jeopardy as Mitchell Santner dismantled the middle order, claiming four wickets for just 21 runs in his four overs.
Sanju Samson (14) was dismissed by Jacob Duffy, while Nathan Smith accounted for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (4). Abhishek Sharma struck three boundaries and a six in his 27 off 21 deliveries before Santner ended his stay at the crease.
India skipper Shreyas Iyer was dismissed for just seven, bowled by Santner, who then sent Axar Patel (11) back to the pavilion to leave the visitors struggling at 70/5 in the 11th over.
Naman Dhir reignited India’s hopes with an aggressive 31 off 17 deliveries, including a boundary and three sixes. He forged a valuable stand with Tilak before Santner dismissed him in the 15th over.
With India needing a substantial contribution from the lower order, Tilak kept his composure and found the fours to ensure the required run rate remained manageable. Reddy’s aggressive counterattack further swung the momentum in the visitors’ favour.
The unbeaten stand guided India to the win in a tense final over, completing a brilliant chase that had looked improbable after the visitors lost five wickets.
(With PTI Inputs)
