Tilak Varma’s Superb Unceaten 72 led to India’s entertaining two-run win over England as they chased down 166 to clinch Chennai’s second T20 International win.
England posted 165-9 after posting when they could have been on course for victory as they reduced India to 78-5, but 126-7 for the hosts should have saved them a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. gives
Tilak’s only significant support came from Washington Sundar (26) as superb bowling from Brydon Kores (3-29) (1-14) was canceled out by Jofra Archer (1-60).
Brydon Carrs starred for England with 31 runs and three wickets
England were earlier in a competitive total after captain Hoss Beitler (45) top-scored for the second consecutive game, with 31 off 17 balls, providing a lackluster effort by the games.
But Tilak continued his stunning form as he remarkably completed his fourth successive T20 international innings without a dismissal in November last year and an unremarkable 19 against England.
India will have a chance to secure a series win when the sides meet again in Rajkot on Tuesday for the third match of the series.
Button’s best points again for Falltering England
There was a sense of déjà vu as England lost the arrow and found themselves, for the second game in a row, losing both wickets.
Phil Sall fell for a boundary off the first ball but couldn’t survive the opening as he caught a boundary from Washington Sundar trying to catch a very short arshdeep singh delivery.
Button, still in the finesse he had shown in the series opener, responded with three boundaries in the third, including a six down the ground from the follower as his reverse sweep came out of the air from his pad to give Washington instant texture.
Jos Buttler top scored for England for the second consecutive game
England remained aggressive but the tissues continued to fall, Harry Brook could only smile at his opponent’s genius as Vary Chakravarty burst through on goal.
India got the texture they craved the most as the back went for a big hit and the pivot delivery sent Tilak’s hand straight to the boundary.
The pattern continued as Liam Livingston fell in similar fashion off Aax Patel’s next over to leave England on 90-5.Jam Smith, making his T20 international debut in place of the unerring Jacob Bethel, used his legs well to knock 22 before Abhishek Catching Sharma’s long-on boundary.
The corner then produced what would prove to be the decisive innings, hitting three sixes to take England on their way to a competitive total.
England’s sudden surge of momentum was once again uprooted by two wickets with two balls to spare as Goulton fooled Vasot before the bowler went after the bowler.
Left at 137-8 with 23 balls still to go, England bowled madly to see out Darren (12 not out), Rashid (10) and Mark Wood (5).
Tilak takes victory away from England
India got off to a flying start in their chase as Abhishek Sharma hit the bowler, three boundaries off six balls, but he was second off the woodwork.
England’s comeback continued in the third over when the bowler beat Sanju Samson with a short delivery, a simple catch for a leg-side caress.
He shared a stand of 39 with India captain Suryakumar Yadav, but Carse’s superb play continued as he made the batsman play on his stumps.
Tilak was unbeaten in fourth successive T20 international for Inists
Khorez soon claimed another texture as he had Dhruv Juvel before Overton dismissed India 78-5 with his first ball.
The height of India’s first fightback came as they took 18 runs as the wicket bowed from the 13th over, with Rashid giving a simple chance to dismiss Washington.
England looked to have recovered as the wicket came to Washington in the next over before Liam Livingstone fell to the boundary to leave India on 15.
Tilak responded to the bowler for the next six as India got back into the mix, but Arshden next gave Rashid his length to leave India on 146-8 from 20 balls.
Tilak bowled the penultimate over at long-on off the first four balls, but it was new partner Ravi Bishno who hit a decisive positive boundary to put India on edge.
With six needed from the final over, it was Tillak who finished the job properly, going through the covers from England, wondering how victory had eluded him.
What do they say?
India Captain Suryakumar Yadav.
“Obviously there’s a bit of relief. It was good that the game went down to the wire.
“The program was just played the way we did in the last game. It’s good to see us playing an aggressive brand of cricket, but as the situation called for.
“I’m very pleased with Tilak’s broken path. It’s good to see him take that responsibility on himself.”
England Captain Jos Buttler.
“It was a great game. It was really interesting at the end and all the credit goes to Tilak.
“I thought we were really aggressive, we pushed them, we were really close. The aggression was there that we asked for.
“I was really happy with the style we played. We were almost a defensive unit.
“Lots of positives. I’m really happy with the performance.”
Brydon Carrs of England.
“Obviously the performance was a lot better than the other night, but we didn’t put in a full performance. It’s very interesting to see where we can go in these next few games.
“I felt like we got a decent score on the board and we kept the ball rolling throughout the game.
“Credit goes to Tilak, he played very mature and intelligent places and in the end he was the difference in their side.”
England in India – Results and Fixtures
All times Great Britain and Ireland
- First T20. Wednesday 22 January – Eden Gardner, Kolkata – India won by seven wickets
- Second T20. Saturday January 25 – Ma Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai – India won by two wickets
- Third T20. Tuesday, January 28 (1.30pm) – Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot
- Fourth T20. Friday January 31 (1.30pm) – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
- Fifth T20. Sunday February 2 (1.30pm) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- First Odi. Thursday February 6 (8am) – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur
- Second Odi. Sunday 9th February (8am) – Barabati Stadium, Cutter
- Third Odi. Wednesday, February 12 (8 am) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
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