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The newest debutant in Indian cricket, Tilak Varma celebrated his first fifty at the international level in style, during the second T20I against the West Indies at the Providence Stadium on August 6, Sunday. The 20-year-old was also the highest scorer in the first T20I of the five match series for Team India, making a big mark from the very beginning of his career.
Notably, the captain of India, Hardik Pandya won the toss and chose to bat first in Georgetown, Guyana. The start was difficult for the visitors, losing two quick wickets inside the powerplay. Alzarri Joseph was the first to strike for the West Indies in the third over, picking up the big wicket of Shubman Gill for 7, who had got the leading edge of the bat, which flew into the safe hands of the deep third fielder Shimron Hetmyer.
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In the next over, Suryakumar Yadav was run out for 1 because of the direct hit from Kyle Mayers, bringing in Tilak Varma to bat. The youngster from Mumbai Indians took the initiative back from the Men in Maroon, smashing regular boundaries to bring India back into the contest.
After Ishan Kishan lost his wicket at the other end for 27, getting knocked over by Romario Shepherd, the next batter Sanju Samson didn’t trouble the scorers much either, getting stumped off Akeal Hosein. But the fall of wickets at the other end didn’t hamper the progress of Tilak Varma, who kept the scoreboard pushing forward before completing his first half century at the highest level, the second youngest Indian player to do so, after Indian captain Rohit Sharma.
Watch Tilak Verma's maiden 50 celebration here :
He also shared an invaluable partnership of 38 runs with stand-in captain Hardik Pandya to bring his side out of trouble at 114-5 in the 16th over.
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Tilak Varma finished his innings at 51 runs off 41 deliveries, including five fours and one six, after Akeal Hosein took his wicket while he tried to keep the foot on the accelerator.
