Key Points:
Hardik Pandya played a stormy inning of 63 runs with the help of just 5 fours and 5 sixes. He completed his half-century in just 16 balls, which is the second fastest fifty for India in T20 International cricket.
Delhi: India won the five-match T20 series against South Africa 3-1. In the fifth and last match played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Team India defeated South Africa by 30 runs and captured the series.
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was the hero of India’s victory in the fifth T20. He not only thrilled the audience with his explosive batting, but also played an important role in taking the team to a huge score of 231/5.
Hardik Pandya’s historic innings
Hardik Pandya played a stormy inning of 63 runs with the help of just 5 fours and 5 sixes. He completed his half-century in just 16 balls, which is the second fastest fifty for India in T20 International cricket. This innings of Hardik proved to be the turning point of the match. He also contributed in bowling and took the wicket of Dewald Brevis.
Heart winning statement of Hardik Pandya
Hardik was chosen Player of the Match (POTM) for his excellent performance. After receiving the award, he said that he plays not for personal achievements but to help the team win. He told that he later came to know that his fifty was the second fastest for India. Hardik said that he had already decided that he would play aggressively from the first ball and today he got full benefit from it.
32-year-old right-handed star all-rounder Hardik Pandya said after the match, “I play cricket not only to win the Player of the Match, but also to help the team win. It feels good to contribute to the victory, when I returned, I came to know that I have bowled the second fastest wicket for India. It felt good to know. I had told my teammates and partners that I would bat with the first ball. Today I took full advantage of the opportunity. It was a very satisfying day.”
Important contribution of Tilak Verma
During Hardik’s aggressive innings, Tilak Verma batted with patience and intelligence at the other end. There was an excellent partnership of 105 runs in 44 balls between the two for the fourth wicket. Tilak Verma scored 73 runs in 42 balls with the help of 10 fours and one six and strengthened the innings.
Openers gave a fast start
Earlier, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson gave India a fast start. Both of them adopted an aggressive stance in the power play itself and took the team’s score to 63 runs in the sixth over. Abhishek Sharma contributed 34 runs and Sanju Samson contributed 37 runs.
Good start for South Africa, but the innings fell apart at the end
Chasing the target of 232 runs, South Africa also made a good start. Quinton de Kock played an inning of 65 runs and, as long as he remained at the crease, the match remained exciting. However, after his dismissal, the innings of the African team faltered. South Africa lost the last 7 wickets in just 81 runs and the team could only score 201 runs for 8 wickets.
Dominance of Indian bowlers
The role of bowlers was also important in India’s victory. Varun Chakraborty bowled brilliantly and took four wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah sent two batsmen to the pavilion. Arshdeep Singh also got a success.
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