NEW DELHI: Young batter Tilak Varma displayed a disciplined and well-calculated batting performance, scoring his first half-century in T20Is in the second match against West Indies in Guyana on Sunday.
The 20-year-old Indian batter fearlessly took on the disciplined West Indies bowlers, using scoops, sweeps, and powerful shots to amass 51 runs off 41 balls.
Varma's innings was crucial in stabilising India's position, as they were struggling at 18/2 when he came to the crease. He forged a vital 42-run partnership with Ishan Kishan (27) and later combined forces with skipper Hardik Pandya to add 38 runs to the total.
Hardik contributed 24 runs, including two sixes, before falling victim to a brilliant yorker from Alzarri Joseph (2/28).
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, India managed to reach a total of 152 for seven, thanks to Varma's excellent batting display. The West Indies skipper, Rovman Powell, made effective use of his bowlers, rotating them strategically, which proved to be successful in creating pressure on the Indian batting lineup.
Kishan (27) played a few shots in his 23-ball stay including a six off Akeal Hosein (2/29) over deep square leg but couldn't convert his start into a meaningful innings as he was bowled by Romario Shepherd.
Shubman Gill's (7) stay in the middle was once again a brief one. With pressure building on him after successive dot balls, he showed his class by sending the ball for a maximum in the third over but perished in the very next ball off Joseph.
Suryakumar Yadav (1) didn't last long either as Kyle Mayers at square leg effected the Indian vice-captain's run-out with a brilliant direct hit.
Sanju Samson (7) moved way to early down the track in search of a big shot and was stumped by an attentive Nicholas Pooran.
Hosein, Joseph and Romario Shepherd (2/28) picked two wickets each.
(With PTI inputs)
