Tilak Varma masks middle-order failure to lead India to victory

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XtraTime Newsdesk

India overcame a mid-innings collapse to register a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20I. Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir steadied the innings after India's middle order crumbled, before Nitish Kumar Reddy helped the hosts cross the finish line. With this win, Team India took a 2-0 lead in the series.

Batting first, New Zealand posted 180/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Glenn Phillips top-scored with 70 runs, while Bevon Jacobs contributed 58. New Zealand found themselves under pressure after losing three wickets for just 41 runs in 5.2 overs. However, Phillips and Jacobs turned the innings around with a magnificent 116-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

For India, Arshdeep Singh picked up two wickets for 33 runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prince Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy claimed one wicket apiece.

In reply, India reached 181/6 in 19.5 overs to seal the victory. At one stage, the Indian middle order suffered a dramatic collapse, leaving the team struggling at 70/5.

Tilak Varma then took charge of the chase, with Naman Dhir providing valuable support. Tilak played a blistering knock of 51 off just 26 balls, while Naman contributed 31 off 17 deliveries. Nitish Kumar Reddy added further impetus with a quickfire 26 off 13 balls to guide India home.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi got an opportunity in the match but managed only four runs before being dismissed. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 4/21.

Tilak Varma also created a world record in T20 International cricket on the day. He became the record-holder for the most catches taken in a calendar year in T20Is, surpassing Indonesia's Danilson Hawoe.