Watch: Hardik Pandya Takes A Stunner In His International Cricket Return

By Sandy - Jan 28, 2019 10:39 am

On his international cricket comeback, the Indian pace-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya grabbed a stunning catch to dismiss the New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson.

Finally, the 25-year-old all-rounder Pandya has returned to the Indian playing XI after putting behind his injury and controversy issues. Leading the five-match ODI series by 2-0 against the hosts New Zealand, Pandya has been selected in the third ODI at Bay Oval (Mount Maunganui). The visiting side made two changes in their playing XI from the last ODI as Dinesh Karthik replaced the wicketkeeper MS Dhoni and Pandya replaced the all-rounder Vijay Shankar.

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On the other hand, since the final group stage match against Pakistan at Dubai (DSC) in the Asia Cup 2018 on 19 September 2018, where Pandya suffered an acute back injury during his bowling, it is the first international game for the young all-rounder.

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After winning the toss in this very important ODI, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson decided to bat first. Once again, the openers failed to provide the good starts as the openers Martin Guptill (13) and Colin Munro (7) both were dismissed very cheaply.

Struggling on 26/2 at the very early period, the Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson and the experienced batsman Ross Taylor tried to control that innings. Williamson and Taylor had the 33-run partnership for the third wicket before Williamson lost his wicket on 28 runs off 48 balls (4 fours).

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In the 17th over, Hardik Pandya took a stunner to dismiss the Kiwi captain. On the second ball of that over, while Williamson played a shot to the leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, Pandya grabbed the crucial catch at mid-wicket in a brilliant way. The Indian all-rounder made a superb diving effort to his left and grabbed that successfully on the air. That dismissal made the scoreline 59/3 on 16.2 overs.

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