Tilak Verma’s 72 off 55 balls sealed India’s victory over England in the second T20 match in Chennai on Saturday. The win has made the hosts take a lead by 2-0 in the five match T20 series of the England tour of India. The second T20I proved to be a close thrilling encounter which landed in India’s lap.
India got on the field with seven bowlers, all of whom took wickets except Ravi Bishnoi. Tilak Verma came to bat at No.3, quite early after the ninth ball of India’s innings. The left hander changed the course when India was struggling at 78-5. His score of 72 was an impressive mature knock unbeaten with mixed aggression, hitting five sixes across the field and a good running between the wickets. It was Tilak’s fourth successful T20I innings without being dismissed. Last year in November, Tilak hit back to back centuries against South Africa, followed with unbeaten 19 on Wednesday.
England was striking for victory pulling down India 126-7. Tilak still on the field, it was still a task. The batsman was supported by Washington Sundar (26). By the last over, India required 6 runs to win the match. Tilak ran for two runs on the first ball, and smashed a four to the boundary on the second ball of Jamie Overton.
England had to bat again first, where they emerged with a defendable score of 165-9 this time. For England, it was one man fighting singlehandedly, Jos Buttler who scored 45 off 30 balls. Unfortunately, his wicket fell down to Axar Patel, the team stood at 77-4. Besides him, it was only Brydon Carse who added to the team both with the bat and the ball. Carse took three wickets, the top pick among England’s bowlers and put up an individual score of 31 for his team. He took one of the most important wickets of Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav. Jamie Smith in his T20I debut scored 22. But all of their efforts went away in vain.
The third T20 between India and England is scheduled this coming Tuesday, on 28th January, 2025 in Rajkot where India would be wishing to seal the series with a successive win.
