Follow UsIndia’s rising left-handed star Tilak Varma has begun his County Championship stint with a splendid century against Essex, scoring 100 off 241 deliveries. Varma, who was batting at number four for his new side, came when his team, Hampshire, were in a precarious position at 34/2 after conceding 296 in the first innings to Essex.
He first had a 62-run partnership with Fletcha Midldeton (61), then a 68-run stand with skipper Ben Brown (42) and followed it with a huge 133-run stand with England international Liam Dawson, who also scored a hundred and is yet to be dismissed.
The partnership between Varma and Dawson allowed Hampshire to take a lead over Essex, which includes former South African Test skipper Dean Elgar. It was finally broken when the 36-year old South African Simon Harmer got him caught by Elgar on exactly 100. He played a very sedate knock, but showed his class with 11 fours and three sixes.
Varma, who plays for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy, now boasts a first-class average of 50.16. Earlier, Ishan Kishan also played well on his County cricket debut and scored 87 off just 98 balls in an innings which was in stark contrast to Varma’s knock as he smashed 12 fours and a six in his knock against Yorkshire.