Tilak Varma after century for Hampshire (Source: @BpSukumaran/X.com)
Tilak Varma has started his County Cricket journey with a fantastic century for Hampshire in the game against Essex. The left-handed batter walked out to bat at number 4 with his team under pressure at 34-2 and managed to bat out a tough period with great character and skills to smash his sixth first-class ton in his 19th match.
Tilak Varma stitched important stands with the likes of Fletcha Middleton, Ben Brown and Liam Dawson en route to his century on the County debut and has brought his team to a position where they have taken the lead in reply to Essex's 296 in the first innings.
Tilak Varma Shows His Prowess In English Conditions
Tilak Varma reached his century off 239 balls early on Day 3 as he was unbeaten on 98 at the end of Day 2 in tough English conditions where the ball was moving quite a bit. The batter played cautiously early in his innings and then unleashed some of his T20 antics, hitting two sixes in a single over of Matt Critchley. Overall, the southpaw hit 11 glorious fours and three sixes in his knock, but could not continue after his hundred as Simon Harmer removed him exactly at a score of 100.
Tilak Varma's century is also good news for Indian cricket as they start a new era after the retirement of some of their stalwarts from Test cricket. He was not in India A squad against England Lions, but has a good first-class average of over 50 and would be looking to make the most of the four games he will play for Hampshire in this County season.
Before his County stint, Tilak Varma was part of the MI setup in the IPL. The season did not go well for the young left-hander, but is back to his best in the longer format and this knock is likely to help his confidence further.
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