Tilak’s blitz guides India to thrilling win

Tilak Varma’s explosive half-century powered India to a thrilling victory over New Zealand after a top-order collapse in the second T20I, putting the visitors 2-0 ahead in the five-match series.

Batting first, New Zealand posted 180 for five, with Glenn Phillips scoring 70 off 43 balls and Bevon Jacobs making 58 off 46 deliveries. Arshdeep Singh claimed two wickets for India.

India struggled during the chase, losing Sanju Samson for 14 and Abhishek Sharma for 24. Vaibhav Suryavanshi was dismissed for four soon after Abhishek’s departure, leaving the visitors under pressure.

With 46 runs required from the final three overs, Tilak and Nitish Kumar Reddy turned the match around with an aggressive partnership. The pair added an unbeaten 69 runs for the seventh wicket to seal the victory.