Johannesburg: Suryakumar Yadav smashed a century off just 55 balls to guide India to a huge total in the final T20I against South Africa in Johannesburg.
Having notched up his fourth T20I century, Suryakumar Yadav went level with Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell for most centuries in the format.
All four of SKY's centuries have come in the last two years and each of them has been scored in a different country – he has a century each in England, New Zealand, India and now South Africa.
At 26 off 24 balls at one point, the stand-in skipper took the attack to South Africa in the second half of the innings. The onslaught began in the 13th over where Andile Phehlukwayo was picked apart for three sixes and a four.
Unleashing a flurry of shots after a sedate start, SKY showed just why he has been ranked the No.1 T20I batter in the MRF Tyres ICC Men's Rankings as he went on to record yet another hundred.
Surya's century was laced with seven fours and eight sixes. During the course of his knock, he also became the second-highest six-hitter (123 sixes) for India in T20Is, going past Virat Kohli who has 117 maximums. Only Rohit Sharma (182) has more sixes for India than Yadav in the shortest international format.
Suryakumar Yadav's century propelled India to a massive total of 201, despite losing a flurry of wickets in the last two overs. He was well-supported by Yashasvi Jaiswal (60), with whom he formed a century partnership for the third wicket.
In reply, South Africa stumbled early on and never managed to recover from the three Powerplay wickets. Mohammed Siraj set the tone with some sublime bowling and despite not picking the wicket, built pressure for his fellow bowlers to do the damage at the other end.
The spinners came to the party in the latter half of the innings, with Kuldeep Yadav capping off his birthday with a five-wicket haul and career-best T20I figures (5/17).
Only three Proteas batters managed to get to double figures as they were skittled out for 95 in the final T20I, 106 runs short of the target. The honours were shared between the two teams after the series ended 1-1, with the first game washed out due to rain.
The two teams will remain in Johannesburg for the ODI series, which will commence at the same venue on 17 December. (UNI)
