149.5kmph thunderbolt! Mayank Yadav leaves West Indies reeling in chase

Mayank Yadav celebrates after taking the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer. (Pic credit: BCCI)

NEW DELHI: India’s batting fireworks set the stage for a ferocious pace assault as Mayank Yadav unleashed his thunderbolts to leave West Indies reeling in a record chase in Ranchi on Friday.After Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma powered India to their highest-ever T20I total against West Indies, the tearaway pacer delivered a stunning opening spell, claiming three wickets inside the powerplay to put the visitors under immense pressure in their pursuit of 250 in the second match of the five-game series.

Mayank strikes twice in successive deliveries

Sent in to bat by West Indies skipper Shai Hope, India piled up a formidable 249/5 in 20 overs, with Samson leading the charge with a blistering 82 off 41 balls.

Ishan Kishan chipped in with 43 off 22 deliveries, while Iyer smashed 40 off 18 and Tilak remained unbeaten on 44 off just 18 balls.West Indies needed a flying start to stay in the contest, but Mayank had other plans. Bowling at searing pace, he struck twice in successive deliveries in the opening over to rock the visitors early.Mayank first dismissed Kamil Pooran off the third ball, with the batter top-edging a 143kmph short delivery.

Substitute fielder Ravi Bishnoi sprinted in from square leg and took an excellent catch near midwicket to complete the dismissal.The next delivery was even more intimidating. Mayank sent down a 144kmph short-of-a-length ball that jagged back sharply, beating Shimron Hetmyer’s attempted defence and crashing into the stumps. Hetmyer was bowled for a golden duck, leaving West Indies struggling at 5/2 after just four deliveries.

149.5kmph thunderbolt knocks over Powell

Mayank returned to strike again in the final over of the powerplay, producing the fastest and most decisive delivery of his spell.Clocked at a stunning 149.5kmph, the thunderbolt rushed Rovman Powell as he attempted to heave the ball across the line. The delivery brushed his back pad before crashing into the off stump, sending the batter back for 24 off 13 balls.

The dismissal completed Mayank’s three-wicket burst and left West Indies at 72/3 after six overs, with the pacer finishing the powerplay with figures of 3/36 from three overs.Despite Powell’s brief counterattack, the early damage had put West Indies on the back foot in a chase that demanded sustained aggression against India’s imposing total.

India’s batting sets up a daunting chase

India’s 249/5 eclipsed their previous highest T20I total against West Indies — 244/4 at Lauderhill in 2016, when they lost a last-ball thriller by one run. They had also scored 240/3 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium and 209/4 in Hyderabad in 2019.Samson’s explosive innings, backed by valuable contributions from Kishan, Iyer and Tilak, gave India the platform. Mayank’s express pace then ensured the visitors faced a daunting challenge from the outset, with his 149.5kmph delivery providing the defining moment of a devastating powerplay spell.