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England defeated India in the third and final T20I to keep the visitors away from whitewashing them in the three-match series. India, however, almost sealed the deal thanks to heroics by Suryakumar Yadav but fell short of 17 runs.
Chasing 216, India were in deep trouble after losing three wickets for just 31 inside the powerplay. Before the hosts could capitalise further, Suryakumar and Shreyas Iyer took charge to stabilise the innings, though it was Suryakumar who dominated in the partnꦉership.
The 119 runs stand was broken after a struggling Iyer was dismissed by Reece Topley in the 16th💮 over. SKY, however, kept scoring from the other end and smashed his maiden century in the shortest format.
Despite running out of partners, Surya kept India in the game and almost pulled off a miraculous victory but lost his prized scalp in the penultimate over. The right-handed batter was removed by Moeen Ali for a well-made 117 off 55 balls,𝓡 with the help of 14 fours and 6 sixes. The visitors eventually 𒀰lost the game by 17 runs.
Earlier, David Malan and Liam Livingstone powered England to a massive 215/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Malan took India’s second-string bowling attack to the cleaners, scoring a brilliant 77 off just 39 deliveries with the help of 11 boundaries, including five humungous sixes.
Livingstone then took the responsibility into his hands and attacked in the death overs, scoring an unbeaten 42 from 29 balls, courtesy of 4 maximums. For the tourists, Ravi Bishnoi (2/30) and Harshal Patel (2/35) were the most successful bowlers.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Amazing 💯!
There were quite a few brilliant shots but those scoop 𒐪6️⃣s over point were just spectacular.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt)
Surya, more than the match you’ve won a billion hearts! 𝔍You’ve shown us all how T20s should be played from here on
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73)
Welcome to the 💯 club .. Well played br𒅌other 💪
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina)
Outstanding innings by you
Congratulations & for sealing the series— Munaf Patel (@munafpa99881129)
Almost there yaar 😞
Nevertheဣless, we are still in awe of the SKY Masterclass🦄! 💙
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan)
Maiden 💯 for in international cricket🙌
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel)
We may have lost the game, but SKY won the hearts of every T̶e̶a̶m̶ ̶I̶n̶d̶i̶a̶ Cricket fan 💙's sensational 1⃣1⃣7⃣ was the highlight, as 🇮🇳 lost by 1⃣7⃣ runs but won the series 2️⃣-1️⃣ 🏆
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals)
Arguably the best T20i innings I've seen by a bloke walking in at No.4 …it was simply breathtaking, literally toyed with the English bowlers. Namaskar 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
— R SRIDHAR (@coach_rsridhar)
Thꦕe Sky is a lovely shade of blue today. 𒈔Wow . One of the best I have seen
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
SKY! The more you watch his batting, the more you love it. What an extraordinary talent 🤩Congratulations on your💜 maiden T-20 💯
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R)
Suryakumar Yadav – Best knock ever by an Indian in T20 Bilaterals.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
