During the third game of the five-match T20I series between West Indies and India at Providence, Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav’s heroic batting performance helped the visitors stay alive in the series. In that same game, Yadav became the third Indian cricketer to hit 100 T20I sixes.
As West Indies were already leading the series by 2-0 before the third T20I, it was the must-win game for the visitors India as they couldn’t afford another defeat in the series.
West Indies: 159/5 in 20 overs
The hosts opted to bat first after winning the toss in the third game. Despite a good start with a 55-run partnership for the opening wicket, the Caribbean team scored 159/5 in 20 overs. Opener Brandon King scored run-a-ball 42 runs, while captain Rovman Powell remained 40 not out in just 19 balls.
Among the Indian bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav, who also became the fastest Indian bowler to complete 50 T20I wickets in the same game, bagged three wickets (3/28).
India: 164/3 in 17.5 overs, thanks to Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma
Chasing down the target, India lost both the openers cheaply as the visitors were in danger of losing the T20I series before the last two matches. However, Suryakumar Yadav rescued team India with his extraordinary batting performance, while he got proper support from the new Indian team sensation, Tilak Varma.
While Varma remained not out on 49 runs in 37 balls, Yadav scored 83 runs in 44 balls with the help of ten fours and four sixes. Yadav completed his half-century in just 23 balls. Those powerful batting and captain Hardik Pandya’s late cameo (20 not out in 15 balls) guided India to chase the target in 17.5 overs after losing three wickets.
Suryakumar Yadav completed 100 T20I sixes
Meanwhile, during his powerful batting performance, Yadav completed 100 sixes in his T20I career with his third over-boundary of the game. Here are a few important stats after Yadav reached the T20I sixes milestone.
Yadav became the third Indian to hit 100 T20I sixes.
Yadav became the 14th cricketer to record 100 sixes in T20I cricket.
Indian cricketers with 100 T20I sixes
Player | Number of T20I sixes |
Rohit Sharma | 182 |
Virat Kohli | 117 |
Suryakumar Yadav | 101 |
(Updated till 8 August 2023)