149.5 km/h lightning! Mayank Yadav leaves West Indies reeling after India’s record T20I total in Ranchi

Mayank Yadav celebrates after taking the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer. (Photo Credit: BCCI) NEW DELHI: India’s batting fireworks set the stage for a ferocious pace attack as Mayank Yadav unleashed his thunderbolts to leave West Indies in a record chase in Ranchi on Friday.After Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma powered India to their highest T20I total against the West Indies, the blistering pacer produced a stunning opening spell and claimed three wickets in the powerplay to put the visitors under immense pressure in their pursuit of 250 in the second match of the five-match series.

Mayank strikes twice in consecutive deliveries

Sent into bat by West Indies captain Shai Hope, India amassed an impressive 249/5 in 20 overs, with Samson leading the charge with a brilliant 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. The scorching pace bowler struck twice in consecutive deliveries in the opener to rattle the visitors early.Mayank first dismissed Kamil Pooran off the third ball with his top edge hitting 143 kmph. Substitute fielder Ravi Bishnoi sprinted from square leg and took a superb catch near midwicket to complete the dismissal.The next delivery was even scarier. Mayank bowled a 144km/h short ball that whizzed sharply past Shimron Hetmyer’s defense and hit the stumps. Hetmyer claimed a golden duck, leaving West Indies struggling at 5/2 after just four deliveries.

149.5 km/h lightning struck Powell

Mayank came back to strike again in the final over of the over, delivering the quickest and most decisive delivery of his spell.The Lightning hit a staggering 149.5km/h and bowled out Rovman Powell as he attempted to flick the ball over the line. The delivery brushed his back before hitting the stumps and sending the batter back for 24 balls off the 13th over.The dismissal completed Mayank’s three-wicket burst and left West Indies at 72/3 after six overs, with the pacer completing the powerplay with figures of 3/36 from three overs.Despite Powell’s brief counter-attack, the early damage put West Indies on the back foot in a chase that required sustained aggression against a formidable Indian unit.

India’s batting unleashes 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 the final thriller by one run. In 2019, they also scored 240/3 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and 209/4 in Hyderabad.Samson’s explosive innings, supported 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 149.5km/h speed providing the defining moment of a devastating spell in the powerplay.