India hammers Netherlands, moves to top of table: IND 179/2 (20) beats NED 123/9 (20) by 56 runs - Virat Kohli hit a second successive unbeaten half-century as India made it two wins from two matches at the Twenty20 World Cup with a comfortable 56-run victory over the Netherlands at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Surya hits half-century against Netherlands, leads batting charts
Suryakumar Yadav became the leading T20I run-scorer in 2022 after his superb half-century knock against the Netherlands on Thursday in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The explosive batter scored an unbeaten 51 off just 25 balls to help India post 179/2 in 20 overs. In the process, Suryakumar took over Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan who was at the top of the scoring charts with 825 runs from 19 innings this year with an average of 51.56. Suryakumar has amassed 867 runs in 25 innings averaging an impressive 41.28 including a century.
“Batting at four, there are two situations, one in which the team has lost early wickets and scored less or has scored a lot and lost some wickets. In the first instance we need to stabilise and then I have to chase a tempo, in the second I have to be in that tempo immediately, either way getting to that tempo of scoring is important,” Suryakumar said at the post match Press conference.
On batting alongside Kohli, he said, “We respect each other and have a camaraderie and plus he will give inputs like what delivery is the bowler likely to bowl and batting with him also means that you got to run hard. I look forward to more partnerships with him.”
Rohit Sharma:Lucky for us, we had a few days to get over that special win. As soon as the game got over, we came to Sydney and regrouped. We have to move on now, and the focus was on this game where we wanted to come out and get those two points. I thought it was a clinical win. Looking at the way they have qualified for the Super 12s, credit to them. We however always looked to what we can do with ourselves, not bother about the opposition. To be honest, this was a near perfect win. Yes, we played a little slow at the start but that was the conversation between me and Virat, we had to wait on that surface to play the big shots. Not too happy with my fifty, but what’s important is getting runs - doesn’t matter if they are good looking runs or ugly runs. At the end of the day, it is about keeping the confidence up.
Suryakumar Yadav, Player of the Match: I was just trying to express myself when I went into bat. The situation was very simple, I just had to up the tempo at that time. I took one ball today (to get going), but the message was loud and clear. We had to get about 8-10 an over and get a total which our bowlers could defend easily. Very happy with the way things went. Really enjoying batting with him (Kohli), the thoughts are very clear when we both are batting.If I get few boundaries earlier then our partnership needs to be stretched and that’s what we are doing.
Match Report: India hardly broke a sweat during its Super 12 game against the Netherlands as the Rohit Sharma-led side registered a massive 56-run victory in Sydney.
Almost the Indian bowlers featured in the wickets column as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and R Ashwin picked two wickets each to strangle the Netherlands in a stiff chase of 180. Mohammed Shami picked a wicket.
Netherlands lacked momentum as the Indians pegged away with Bhuvneshwar laying the platform, the spin of Axar and Ashwin applying the choke and Arshdeep wrapping up things.
Earlier, Suryakumar Yadav once again provided the final flourish with a breathtaking unbeaten 51 off 25 balls and Virat Kohli hit his second consecutive half-century as India posted 179/2.
The Indian batting fired in unison as skipper Rohit (53 off 39 balls) became the pacesetter while the team’s No. 1 batter Kohli played the role of an anchor to perfection with a top-score of 62 not out off 44 balls.
Kohli conjured two vital partnerships - 73 for the second wicket with Rohit and 95 for the unbroken third wicket with Surya.
Once Rohit was dismissed, Kohli showed some aggression as his running between the wickets put pressure on the Netherlands attack.
Kohli’s fifty came off 37 balls, with three fours and two sixes but he ran the opposition ragged before allowing Surya to pounce on them for a delicious run-feast.
Netherlands fall in Ashwin, Axar’s spin trap: Spinners’ day out in Sydney as Axar Patel and R Ashwin had a fruitful evening in Sydney with both the spinners sharing four wickets among themselves. While Axar registered figures of 4-0-18-2, Ashwin finished his quota with 4-0-21-2. Both spinners went about their job with discipline, bowling tight lines and mixing their deliveries well. Axar took care of Max ODowd and Bas de Leede while Ashwin joined the party with the wickets of Colin Ackermann and Tom Cooper. A huge victory is on the cards but more than that a massive boost to India’s run-rate.
Axar, Ashwin strikes put India ahead: Spin from both ends but it’s Axar Patel who has picked his second wicket by dismissing Bas de Leede. The spinner hasn’t put a wrong foot and has been enjoying the evening in Sydney by taking two important wickets. Bas de Leede chases a tossed-up delivery, trying to cut and break away from the schakles but Hardik Pandya at backward point covers a minimal distance and takes a good leaping catch to keep the momentum with India. While Dinesh Karthik has missed a stumping off Axar’s bowling, Ashwin picked a wicket by removing Colin Ackermann who hit straight to Axar Patel at deep mid-wicket and then packs off Tom Cooper who offers Deepak Hooda (substitute) catching practice at deep backward square leg.. Netherlands need a miracle as the required rate is nearly 15 with the current at 5.17 rpo. India on top.
Axar tames Max ODowd: The introduction of Axar Patel has dented the Netherlands as the spinner has clipped Max ODowd’s wings and that’s a crucial wicket for India as the batsman was threatening to cut loose. He strikes in his very second delivery, forget the 21 runs he leaked against Pakistan as Axar gives just three and packs off Max ODowd as the ball deceives his sweep to disturb the timber and light up the bails and the Indian crowd in Sydney. Netherlands lose both their openers and India in control of proceedings. Meanwhile, Bhuvi is running through the overs by bowling his second maiden over.
Bhuvi castles Vikramjit: Bhuvneshwar Kumar constantly poses questions and he has been successful this time by casting Vikramjit Singh inside the PowerPlay. Singh never looked in good touch and wasn’t comfortable nor confident while facing the swing and pace of Bhuvneshwar and this time the bowler deceives the opener with a back-of-length delivery that clipped the off bail. Playing across the line was never an option and it was a shot of a batsman short in confidence and technique against a quality swing bowler. Bhuvi gives India the breakthrough and the others will eye to join the party.
Bhuvi, Arshdeep steam in: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh begin India’s defence of 179 with the former starting with a brilliant maiden over. There is a hint of movement and swing, with the angle leaving the right-hander and Arshdeep digging in the short one. There is pace and the bowler is able to extract bounce but Max ODowd punishes Arshdeep for providing width as the batsman crashes through the off-fence to get the Netherlands run chase rolling. Early wickets, key for India but the Netherlands won’t back away from the challenge. Vikramjit Singh has opened his account after playing out a maiden.
Suryakumar Yadav on batting alongside Kohli: I’ve enjoyed batting here, enjoyed that partnership. When I went inside, Virat bhai just said keep batting the way you have been batting, so I just expressed myself. Good to see everyone come here and support us, my wife is also around so that’s a great support as well. The wicket is a bit two-paced, it is a good score to defend. Virat Kohli has been batting amazingly, he has just stuck to his routines and processes. I’m really enjoying batting with him.
IND 179/2 | Kohli, Surya reign supreme: Virat Kohli is yet to be dismissed in this World Cup and Surya Kumar Yadav has hit the fourth fastest half-century for India as the duo stitched an unbeaten 95-run partnership off just 48 deliveries to power India to an imposing 179/2 in 20 overs. The last five overs yielded 65 runs without the loss of any wicket and that was some batsmanship from Surya and Kohli. While Kohli remained unbeaten on 62 off 44 balls with three boundaries and two sixes, Suryakumar made an unbeaten 51 off just 25 balls at an amazing strike rate of 204! Rohit Sharma scripted a new record in the six-hitting zoner with a half-century. On a slow wicket, India will fancy their chances of defending the total and resgistering their second consecutive win.
Kohli hits half-century: Back-to-back half-centuries for Kohli and he has picked his spots beautifully, threading the gaps with precision and unleashing the big shots just when the time is right. A loft over mid-off and then an exquisite shot over the extra cover for a maximum and he enjoyed that, gesturing with wide-open eyes to Suryakumar Yadav and punching gloves. It’s top gear now and with Hardik Pandya in the sheds, India has the license to go for the kill. The death overs will see the white ball travelling high and into the Sydney stands. Time for some crowd catching given the power and audacity that both Kohli and Surya possess.
Kohli, Surya drive India: The predicted score is 180 but India will aim to break the 200-run barrier with Kohli and Suryakumar in the middle. The ball isn’t exactly coming onto the bat and it’s difficult for a new batsman to come and play his shots straight away. Surya has been timing the ball well and Kohli has been banking on running between the wickets, rather than going over the top. His drives through the off-side have yielded good results, with the ball travelling to the longer pockets of the park. Kohli has hit just one boundary and is batting on 32 off 30 and it’s Suryakumar who has hit five boundaries in a partnership that has yielded 38 runs so far. India will look to attack now and change gears swifty.
Rohit falls after half-century: That’s the end of the Indian skipper and this time he has found the fielder. However, an excellent half-century and that should boost his confidence going ahead into the tournament. Rohit forged a 73-run partnership with Kohli and it was the Indian skipper who made the majority of the contribution scoring 52 off 35 balls. It was a bit scratchy from Rohit as he lacked a bit of fluency in his innings but it was punctuated with pulls and some lovely strokes down the ground. Fred Klaassen gets Rohit with a slower one and although Rohit connected it, he failed to clear the deep mid-wicket boundary as Ackermann swallowed it. Fifty and falls immediately but his signate hook was in full diplay, although for a brief period. Time for Suryakumar Yadav to lit up the Sydney sky with Kohli at the other end.
Rohit scripts new record: Rohit Sharma has now hit the most number of sixes than anyone else in T20Is. With 181 sixes, Rohit tops the list and has surpassed Martin Guptill (173), Chris Gayle (124), Aaron Finch (122) and Eoin Morgan (120). Virat Kohli is the only Indian in the top-10 with 113 sixes. In this innings, the Indian captain has already hit three sixes.
Rohit, Kohli motor on: Netherlands have not allowed India to run away with the game and they are bowling in tandem, posing a lot of questions. Rohit is talking his chances, connecting well and on one occasion smoked van Beek over the wide long-on to give India some momentum. Rohit was given LBW and the Indian skipper immediately took a review and it was a successful one and there was a clear spike before the ball hit the pad. The fifty-run partnership is up between Rohit and Kohli and it has come in 43 balls with Rohit doing bulk of the scoring. Kohli is happy to play the second fiddle and it’s the same the pitch that was used for the South Africa-Bangladesh match but has slowed down considerably.
Dutch win PowerPlay: Excellent start from the Netherlands’ fast bowlers as they have managed to keep the Indians quiet and have picked the wicket of KL Rahul. The length from Paul van Meekeran, Fred Klaassen and Bas de Leede has been good and they have mixed the deliveries well. Klaassen almost got Rohit but Pringle gave the Indian skipper a life and it needs to be seen how much advantage can Rohit take from the drop catch. The ball is just gripping the surface and on a slow pitch, the variations have been excellent from the Netherlands. Kohli meanwhile is biding his time and this partnership is now 27 off 26 with India’s run-rate at 5.44 rpo.
Rahul falls early: KL Rahul misses the flick once again and it’s Van Meekeren who has given the Netherlands an early breakthrough. It was a golden opportunity for Rahul but he plays all around a full delivery and his struggle to find rhythm and form continues. The Indians decide against the review and Rahul walks back after scoring just 9 off 11 balls. Rohit, meanwhile, has looked in good touch with a delightful six over the deep square leg boundary. The Indian skipper is joined by King Kohli.
Rohit, Rahul Begin Innings: Right then Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are out in the middle and it will be a crucial outing for both the Indian openers and they will be eyeing to get into the groove early. Fred Klaassen will be operating with the new ball and the left-arm quick will pose some questions to the Indian right-handed pair of Rohit and Rahul. Here we go! Klaasen to Rahul, who will win the battle? It’s time to find out
India Playing XI: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik(w), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh
Netherlands Playing XI: Vikramjit Singh, Max ODowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Tom Cooper, Scott Edwards(w/c), Tim Pringle, Logan van Beek, Shariz Ahmad, Fred Klaassen, Paul van Meekeren
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