Mount Maunganui (New Zealand): After India registered a commanding win over New Zealand, 'Man of the Match' Suryakumar Yadav expressed his happiness with the way he's batting at the moment.
Suryakumar carried his rich vein of form forward as he slammed the second hundred of his T20I career during the second T20I of the three-match series against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui on Sunday. With this win, Team India have gained a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Suryakumar's batting masterclass of unbeaten 111 and Deepak Hooda's four-wicket haul helped India bundle out New Zealand for 126 runs to clinch the second match by 65 runs in the three-match T20I series here at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.
"The plan was clear when I went into bat. At the 12th/13th over, we thought about batting deep and getting around 170-175 was a par score. Secret (behind his freak shots) is about the intent and you need to enjoy yourself. I'm enjoying batting this way, I've been doing the same thing in the nets, all practice sessions and going out [to the middle], all these things happening, I'm very happy with that," Suryakumar said in a post-match presentation.
"It's also about the work you do in the practice sessions. It's a great feeling coming here, having a full game and going 1-0 in the series feels good. I feel that I didn't think too much about what was happening. Just had my game plan and it worked well. Fantastic crowd here," he added.
Suryakumar took just 49 balls to bring up his ton in the penultimate over of India's innings. He smashed a four and a six after that but couldn't get a strike in the final over as India managed a total of 191/6 in 20 overs. Yadav remained unbeaten on 111 from 51 deliveries, an innings consisting of 11 fours and seven huge sixes.
Coming to the match, defending a competitive target of 192, Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck on the second ball of the chase as he dismissed Finn Allen for two balls duck. The right-handed batter and captain Kane Williamson then came out to bat and the batter kept piling runs along with the opener Devon Conway.
In the 7th over of the innings, Williamson hammered Washington Sundar for 17 runs while slamming back-to-back one four and a six. However, Sundar made a stunning comeback as he bagged the wicket of well-set batter Devon Conway 25 off 21.
Glenn Phillips then came out to bat and the batter slammed a four on the very first ball he faced but his stint at the crease did not last long as he was dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal for 12 off 6. At that point, New Zealand were tottering at 70/3. The right-handed batter Daryl Mitchell then came out to bat.
New Zealand batters looked helpless in front of great spells of Indian bowlers as they binded Kiwis from scoring runs. Deepak Hooda then gave New Zealand another blow as he sent Mitchell packing for 10 off 11 in the 13th over of the game.
James Neesham then came out to bat but could not do much as he fell to a three-ball duck. Williamson then tried to handle struggling New Zealand as he pulled some boundaries to ease the pressure. Even in the pressure situation New Zealand skipper Williamson stood strong in front of the Indian bowling attack he slammed a much-needed fifty in 48 balls.
In the 18th over of the innings, Williamson slammed one six and four but his stint at the crease was cut short as he was sent back to the pavilion by Mohammed Siraj after playing a stunning knock of 61 off 52. In the 19th over of the game, Hooda struck thrice as he dismissed Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee and Adam Milne. India folded New Zealand for 126 in 18.5 over to win the match by 65 runs. (ANI)
