Suryakumar Yadav, world no 3 in T20Is, smashed the Australian bowlers all around the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad in the 3rd T20I on Sunday. Chasing 187 runs, the 32-year-old played a 69-run hand to put India in the driver’s seat. 

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Surya came in to bat when India were 30/2 in the fourth over. Openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul were sent back to the pavilion. The No 4 batter then joined hands with Virat Kohli to stitch a 104-run stand. By the time he was dismissed, the Men in Blue were cruising at 134 in the 14th over. 

Yadav smashed five boundaries and as many sixes during his 36-ball stay at the crease. He started off with smashing Pat Cummins for a four through extra cover. 

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The 32-year-old took a few balls to settle down. Just when the required run rate was spiking, he hit consicutive boundaries off Glenn Maxwell in the eighth over. All wrists and clever placement.

SKY stepped over to Daniel Sams and played a lofted off-drive with a high elbow. He had all the time in the world. A six off Pat Cummins was followed by two humongous hits against leg-spinner Adam Zampa to reach his fifty in 31 balls.

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Zampa went full. Surya immediately adjusted a played a brilliant lofted cover drive. The next ball saw the batter step out and play a styling whip shot over long-on. 

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Pacer Josh Hazlewood was hit for a boundary and a six before he dismissed Suryakumar Yadav on a slot ball. The Indian batter, looking for another six, timed the ball well but found Aaron Finch at long-off. Kohli, at the other end, ran to SKY and pated him on the back. 

Kohli soon reached his fifty.