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Tilak Varma anchored India’s chase with an unbeaten 72 to lead the hosts to a thrilling two-wicket victory over England in the second T20 international on Saturday.
Chasing a tricky 166 for victory, India lost regular wickets but Varma remained composed in his 55-ball knock to take the team home with four balls to spare in Chennai and lead the five-game series 2-0.
England fast bowler Brydon Carse returned figures of 3-29 to hurt the hosts, who slipped to 146-8, but Varma hooked up with number 10 Ravi Bishnoi and hit the winning boundary.
The chase went all the way as India needed 20 from 18 balls and then 13 from the final 12 as Bishnoi also hit two fours in his unbeaten nine to support left-hander Varma who hit four four and five six.
“It’s good to see that we are playing aggressive cricket, at the same time the guys have raised their hands and made small partnerships,” said skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
“Very happy with the way Tilak batted, something for everyone to learn.”
England skipper Jos Buttler said: “Great game. Really exciting finish, thanks to Tilak for getting them over the line. We created a lot of chances, really pushed them close.”
England new-ball pair Jofra Archer and Mark Wood took out the openers in three overs before Carse made an instant impact with the ball in his first two overs.
Carse bowled Indian skipper Suryakumar for 12 after the inside batsman bowled a quick delivery onto his stumps and then dismissed Dhruv Jurel in his next over.
Jamie Overton dismissed Hardik Pandya for seven as India fell to 78-5 in 9.1 overs.
– Rashid spill –
Washington Sundar survived a reprieve on 10 when Adil Rashid dropped a catch at mid-off to Wood and the left-hand batsman smashed the speedster for a six and two fours over.
Carse bowled Sundar, for 26, and India lost two more wickets, but Varma was unstoppable.
Earlier, Buttler hit 45 and Carse 31 off 17 deliveries to help the tourists to 165-9 after being asked to bat.
Spinners Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy took two wickets each.
Buttler, who made 68 in the opening defeat, started aggressively despite England losing Phil Salt for four and Ben Duckett for three.
Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh struck with the fourth ball of the match for Salt to grab his 98th T20 wicket in 62 matches.
Sundar caught Duckett with his first ball, luring him into a reverse sweep attempt, but Buttler and Harry Brook then took over the attack with a flurry of sixes and fours.
Brook lasted eight balls for his 13 before Chakravarthy bowled the England vice-captain.
Wickets continued to tumble as left-arm spinner Patel dismissed Buttler and then Liam Livingstone for 13.
Jamie Smith smashed 22 off 12 balls, but it was Carse who took on the spinners and hit two successive sixes off Chakravarthy before being run out.
The third match will take place in Rajkot on Tuesday.
fk/pb
