3rd T20: Suryakumar blasts India to win over West Indies

India defeated West Indies by seven wickets in the third T20 international on Tuesday in Guyana, thanks in large part to the 83 off 44 balls that Suryakumar Yadav scored.Suryakumar took charge in a dazzling innings that included 10 fours and four sixes after India lost T20 debutants Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill cheaply in pursuit of 160.

Tilak Varma finished unbeaten on 49, and captain Hardik Pandya hit the winning six with 13 balls to spare. “It was critical to be myself during the power play.” “The team wanted me to bat as much as possible,” Suryakumar explained. “I spent a lot of time practicing these scoop strokes.” That’s something I’ve always wanted to do. “I simply enjoy expressing myself.”

West Indies captain Rovman Powell had earlier pushed his team to 159-5 after winning the toss and electing to bat in Providence. Brandon King hit a run-a-ball 42, while fellow openers Kyle Mayers (25) and Nicholas Pooran (20) also contributed.

Kuldeep Yadav, who was recalled in place of Ravi Bishnoi, claimed 3-28 to lead India’s bowling attack. Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar each took a wicket.”We were 10-15 runs short,” Powell said. “It was a decent wicket.” The start we got (with the bat) was something we request. We got lost in the middle.”

India trail the West Indies in the five-match series 2-1 after losing the opener by four runs and then losing by two wickets on Sunday. “We had to believe in ourselves. Two wins or two losses make no difference. “We have a long-term plan, and it was critical that we demonstrate our character,” Pandya said.

West Indies are aiming to win their first two-match series against India in any format since 2016. India won the previous two-Test series 1-0 before defeating the West Indies 2-1 in one-day internationals.