Indian pace-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya took four wickets that helped the Indian team to restrict the hosts England for less than 200-run in the third and final T20I of three-match T20I series at County Ground (Bristol) on Sunday.
Both the teams have a chance to win this T20I series as the series is level by 1-1 ahead of the third T20I. In the Bristol game, Indian captain Virat Kohli decided to field first after winning the toss.
England had a very good opening start as their opening batsmen Jason Roy and Jos Buttler put a fast 94-run partnership. In the powerplay, England openers managed to put 73 runs on the board without losing their wickets.
After in-form Buttler was dismissed on 34 runs, another opener Roy also departed soon after playing a blistering knock of 67 off 31 balls (4 fours and 7 sixes). Pacer Siddarth Kaul bowled Buttler while Roy was the first wicket of international debutant Deepak Chahar.
Then Hardik Pandya showed his wicket-taking skills that restricted the England team to under the 200-run mark.
Pandya who conceded 22 runs in his first over when he came to bowl in the last over of the powerplay, picked up his first two wickets in his third over (14th over of the innings) and the next two wickets in his fourth and last over (18th over of the innings). After dismissing the English skipper Eoin Morgan (6), Pandya dismissed Alex Hales (30), Ben Stokes (14) and Jonny Bairstow (25) respectively.
At the end of that innings, Pandya had a good looking bowling figure of 4-0-38-4 while England managed to score 198/9 at the end of 20 overs. However, at the one stage, England was a favourite to score 210-220 or more runs.
Apart from Pandya, Siddarth Kaul (2/35) took two wickets while another pacer Umesh Yadav (1/48) and the debutant Chahar (1/43) got one wicket each.
Pandya's inspired splendid India comeback. Pendulum swings away from England if restricted under 200
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 8, 2018
This is actually a pretty good comeback from India. England looked like they might get 230!!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 8, 2018
Two in an over for Pandya….two new batsmen for the last two overs. Can India keep England below two hundred?? #TwoToTango #ENGvIND
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 8, 2018
Hardik Pandya conceded 22 runs in his first over…
Next 3 overs: 4/16
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) July 8, 2018
Best Economy Rate in overs 16-20 in T20Is since 2016 (Min: 100 balls)
5.50 Imran Tahir
5.70 Mohammad Naveed
6.72 Hardik Pandya*
6.95 Kyle Abbott
6.97 Rashid Khan— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) July 8, 2018
Hardik Pandya's four wickets:
Caught by Dhoni
Caught by Dhoni
Caught by Kohli
Caught by Dhoni— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) July 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/hankypanty/status/1015953915249152000
Hardik pandya somehow manages to take wickets for India and I'm sure even he doesn't know how 😂#INDvsENG
— Hitesh Sachdeva (@iamhitesh_s) July 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/SirIshantSharma/status/1015966624711565312
https://twitter.com/Sajjanlaunda/status/1015966438085951491
