ENG vs IND, 1 T20I: Hardik Pandya’s all-round heroic power for India to crush victory vs England

Hardik Pandya reigned supreme with one of the best all-round performances in recent times as India beat England to win after 50 runs in the first ever T20 International (T20I) in Southampton. The all-rounder led India’s fierce batting with 33 inflated 51 balls, pushing the visitors to 198 goals 8 after they chose to hit the ball first. Hardik then finished with an excellent 4/33, destroying England’s batting with his full four-time quota. He became only the fourth player from the full member states to score 50 and have four ball wins in a T20I match.

England’s innings ended at 148 in 19.3 rounds.

This was Hardik’s first T20I in half a century, helping India score at a fast pace in the middle after Rohit Sharma (24 of 14 balls), Deepak Hooda (33 0ff 17) and Suryakumar Yadav (39 out of 19) set it up with their daring shots.

Leading at 178th for five at the end of their 17th match, India were unable to end their half with a flourish on one court. But in the end that didn’t matter, even though India caught a large number.

Defensive 199, India got off to a dream start Bhuvneshwar Kumar Captain of the British bowling team Jos Buttler with a beautiful, tested rower Jason Roy with four outstanding athletes.

Starting his great performance with the bat, Hardik served with his first ball not once but twice, eliminating Dawid Malan and Liam Livingstone left England in turmoil at the age of 29 with three in the fifth game.

Hardik was still unfinished as he ended Roy’s tough game in the middle as he opened the scoring against the third man after a thick touchline. He ended a memorable outing using Sam Curran.

Earlier, looking to make up for lost time after missing Thursday’s test with Britain due to COVID-19, Rohit gave India a quick start.

First, Rohit plunges down the track to smash Sam Curran in the middle and while diving Chris Jordan touches the ball, the ball is hit too hard and all the player can do is deflect it to the fence.

Reece Topley strides down and Rohit whips it off his pad for his second boundary. This was followed by another four as the India captain played it throughout, forcing his British colleague Jos Buttler to introduce an early spin as soon as the third inning was over.

Undeterred, Rohit went behind Moeen Ali immediately and collect two boundaries away from him using sweeps in both times.

However, the experienced all-around came back strong to knock off the India captain just as he started to look ominous, with a drifting serve allowing Rohit to shoot for Buttler.

Starting his first century against Ireland, Deepak Hooda started from the position he left off in the previous game at Malahide, beating long-time Moeen in two big sixths. The fact that he opened his account to the max shows the confidence the man from Rohtak brings into the Ageas Bowl.

And though Moeen enjoyed her second foray in the form of Ishan Kishanwho seemed to have no control over their pulls, India continued with their offensive approach.

While Hooda started with number six, Suryakumar Yadav started his round with number four, sweeping Moeen across the back square.

Man in form, Hooda continued to tackle the boundaries, hitting Topley three four in the sixth while India galloped to 66 for two in the power game.

Surya sent Tymal Mills pass the leg well in a six, and then, comfortably have two four legs on the left Matt Parkinsonthose who turn their feet innocuously.

Amid the tumultuous boundary, India lost Hooda – a rather light dismissal – when he failed to connect with an ongoing Jordanian delivery on the last leg.

One big hit was replaced by another, as Hardik Pandya joined Suryakumar in the middle to continue the aggression.

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Immediately, Hardik began to tackle the lines and although Suryakumar got out, after being scored six and four respectively by Mills and Jordan, there was nothing to stop India.

Hardik continued to find the fence with ease and a Parkinson’s tripping, when the hitter was in 37th, added to England’s woes. But they managed to fire Hardik after he was already in his 50s.