Hardik Pandya’s brilliance powers India to 50-run win over England in first T20

PTI

SOUTHAMPTON, July 8

An inspired all-round show from Hardik Pandya fired India to an emphatic 50-run win over England in the first T20 of their three-match series at the Ageas Bowl here on Thursday.

India made a flying start after opting to bat, with Deepak Hooda (33) and Suryakumar Yadav (39) taking a liking to the English attack before Pandya (51) chipped in with his maiden fifty in the shortest format and guided India to 198/8.

The hosts seemed destined to chase an even larger total when Pandya was in full flow, but fine death bowling from Tymal Mills (1/35) and Chris Jordan (2/23) dragged them back into the game and kept India under 200.

In reply, the touring side got an early boost when Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/10) removed new captain Jos Buttler for nought and Pandya (4/33) got rid of Liam Livingstone (0) and Jason Roy (4) in quick succession to leave England reeling at 33/4.

Harry Brook (28) and Moeen Ali (36) tried to revive England in the middle overs but both fell to the leg-spin of Yuzvendra Chahal (2/32) as the loss of regular wickets meant the home side were bowled out for 148 in 19.3 overs.

Buttler said England had no answer to India’s swing bowling. “I think Bhuvneshwar Kumar can swing it most places and he bowled with great control and shaping the ball both ways,” Buttler singled out Kumar for praise. “It probably swung longer than I can remember in a T20 game, we probably needed to try and hit one into the stands to get it to stop swinging. That didn’t happen and all credit to India, I thought they were fantastic.” — Reuters

Monkish Pandya

Southampton: Success and failure have stopped influencing star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has learnt to live a “neutral life” with a lot of clarity. Battling an injury-ravaged body to leading Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL title, it seems making a grand return is slowly becoming a habit for Pandya. On Thursday night, he shone bright with both bat and ball to script India’s win in the first T20I against England.

Pandya hit a blistering 33-ball 51 to propel India to 198/8 and then finished with excellent figures of 4/33 to destroy England’s batting. In the process, he became only the fourth player from full member nations to score a fifty and take four wickets in a T20I match.

“Hard work always pays. I always believe that if you work hard with good intention, it pays. My point is how to prepare myself best. One day result will go my side, other day it won’t,” Hardik said at the post-match press conference. “My mindset doesn’t take me too high, neither low. I have learnt to live neutral in life. Today was a good day, tomorrow can be bad but life moves on, so keep laughing and do your work.”

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