Suryakumar Yadav continues his blistering form and scores his 3rd T20I century in the 3rd T20 international at Rajkot. SKY, as he is famously referred to, tonked his way to a 45-ball 100 to propel India to 228 at the end of their 20 overs. The 3-match T20I series between India and Sri Lanka is currently tied at 1-1. If India manages to secure a victory in this match, they would take the series 2-1.
India won the toss in a good batting pitch at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium and opted to bat first. Much like in the previous game, Ishan Kishan was dismissed early. India then promoted Rahul Tripathi to no.3 and he started bossing the game. By the time Tripathi was dismissed, India had scored 55 before the last delivery of the mandatory powerplay. Tripathi was dismissed for a well-made 16-ball 35.
The Lankans would have thought that they got some respite after Tripathi’s dismissal but in came Suryakumar Yadav. Surya initially took some to get used to the pitch but once he got settled, no bowler and no length mattered much. He was at his usual self, playing lofted shots over the cover, scooping over fine leg and cutting with ease. He remained unbeaten on 112 of 51 balls.
At the fag end of the Indian innings, Axar Patel also flexed his muscle and scored a quick-fire 9-ball 21. Other than these two batters, Shubman Gill also scored a nearly run-a-ball 46 runs and stitched a 111-run partnership with Surya.
For Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madhushanka was the pick of the bowlers. He picked up 2 wickets but went for 55 runs in his quota of 4 overs – thanks to SKY! Other than him, Karunaratne, Hasaranga and Rajitha picked up one wicket each.
