Team India defeated New Zealand in the second T20I to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing three-match series at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.
Suryakumar Yadav was the hero for the Men in Blue as he helped India post 191/6 on the board in their allotted 20 overs with a stunning century.
Suryakumar slammed 11 fours and seven sixes during his unbeaten 111-run knock.
It was Surya’s second hundred in the shortest format and first against the Black Caps.
Interestingly, in a sensational exhibition of creative and fearless T20 hitting, Suryakumar guided India to collect 72 runs off the last five overs, despite not facing a single delivery in the final over, where New Zealand pacer Tim Southee got a hat-trick.
That’s just how T20 cricket is. We bowled well in the beginning, even to Suryakumar. He missed the first 3-4 balls but later scored. It’s about taking wickets,” said Southee. He talked about the issue of playing with a wet ball due to rain at the stadium and said that both teams had the same playing conditions. “Yes, it was but both the teams had the same conditions. It’s just part of cricket that you can sometimes bowl really well and get nothing but bowl like today and end up with a hat trick. It’s always nice,” said the pacer.
Former skipper Virat Kohli hailed Suryakumar Yadav and tweeted, “Numero Uno showing why he’s the best in the world. Didn’t watch it live but I’m sure this was another video game innings by him.” He also added a laughing emoticon.
Virender Sehwag posted a stunning photo of the sky and wrote, “SKY these days.”
Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan too lauded Suryakumar Yadav’s hundred off 49 balls.