India’s talismanic all-rounder Hardik Pandya silenced his critics with a blistering half-century during the fourth T20I against England. The 31-year-old was called out for his slow batting during the previous game in Rajkot. Pandya scored 53 runs off 34 balls with four boundaries and four sixes to help India reach 181/8 from their 20 overs.
The best shot of the day came in the first ball of the 16th over as Pandya was facing Saqib Mahmood. Indian all-rounder walked down the track like he was facing a spinner and smashed the pacer over the long off region for a huge six. Pandya then followed it up with a stare to the bowler who had bowled a triple wicket maiden earlier in the game.
Saqib Mahmood had dismissed Sanju Samson for one run and Tilak Varma for a golden duck off successive balls. The 27-year-old who made his way into the XI in Mark Wood’s place then got the key scalp of Suryakumar Yadav for a duck. Indian fans were in complete shock as the home team lost three wickets in the second over of the game.
Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya power India to huge total on the board
With India in trouble, Rinku Singh joined Abhishek Sharma as the pair added 45 runs for the fourth wicket. Abhishek Sharma was out against the run of play as he slog swept the ball straight into Jacob Bethell’s hand for 29. Rinku Singh was then dismissed four balls after the drinks break for 30 caught by Adil Rashid off Brydon Carse.
Shivam Dube was then joined by Pandya as the pair counter-attacked to add 87-runs for the sixth wicket. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the pair didn’t let the England bowlers settle. Hardik Pandya got to his fifty off just 27 balls with an amazing six off Jamie Overton before falling to the same bowler for 53.
Brydon Carse then saw Shivam Dube smash him for two successive fours to reach his fifty on his comeback to the side. The final over of the innings bowled by Jamie Overton yielded just three runs as India notched 181 runs for the loss of eight wickets from their 20 overs.