Guyana: Suryakumar Yadav struck form by notching up a cracking 83 runs knock to guide India to seven wickets win against West Indies in the third T20I, and kept their hopes alive in the five-match T20I series at Providence Stadium here on Tuesday.
Surya was on song as he walloped 10 boundaries and smoked 4 sixes in his 44 balls knock, which was in total contrast to his last two innings. He could manage just 22 runs in both innings. But on Tuesday, he ploughed into his zone by embellishing his knock with trademark 360-degree strokes over the ropes.
The tone was set by Surya who powered a boundary and a six in his very first two balls, and Tilak Varma gave a perfect support from the other end. He cracked an unbeaten 49 off 37 balls with 4 boundaries and a six.
Varma is now the highest run-getter in the series after he notched up 51 off 41 balls in the last match, and 39 off 22 balls in the first.
Both Surya and Varma added 87 runs for the third wicket, and by the time he left the scene, the game was decided. Varma stuck around and got the team home with skipper Hardik Pandya who remained unbeaten 20 off 15 balls with a six and a boundary.
Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowlers for India, picking up three wickets for 28 in 4 overs.
India started the chase badly, losing two wickets for 34/2 in 4.2 overs with debutant Yashashvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill scoring 1 and 6, respectively.
Jaiswal and Gill's wickets were sent back by Obed McCoy and Alzarri Joseph.
Earlier, Rovman Powell blitz took West Indies to 159/5. Openers Brandon King and Kyle Myer gave a good start as they stitched 55 runs partnership in 7.4 overs.
Between the two, Myers was the main aggressor, while King dug his feets in and played an anchor's role.
Myers scored 25 runs in 20 balls with 3 boundaries and a six, before the left-hander was caught by Arshdeep Singh off left-arm orthodox spinner Axar Patel.
Unlike the last innings, Nicholos Pooran did not get a big score under his belt, but kept the board ticking in the middle overs. He smashed 20 of 12 balls with 2 boundaries and a six.
India rode back riding high on leg-spinner Kuldeep, who scalped three wickets including of Johnson Charles (12), Pooran and King.
However, his magic did not work on skipper Powell whose blitz towards the end made the difference. He smacked a 19-ball 40, and helped West Indies to post the highest total of the five-match T20I series.
With this win, India are 1-2 down in the series. (UNI)