India’s talismanic all-rounder Hardik Pandya finally announced his return to international cricket with a scintillating half-century with the bat after taking four wickets with the ball in the first T20I of the three-match series against England at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. on Thursday. India beat England by fifty runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
For his excellent performance with bat and ball, Reply to @Team_Twitter Player of the match has been selected #teamindia Won the first T20 match by 50 runs.
Take a 1-0 lead in the series.
scorecard – https://t.co/Xq3B0KTRD1 #Engwind pic.twitter.com/oEavD7CONZ— BCCI (@BCCI) 7 July 2022
Earlier in the first innings, The Men in Blue displayed aggression and aggressive intent throughout the innings. Although the English bowlers kept getting wickets regularly and did not allow long partnerships, India posted a challenging total on the board thanks to Pandya (51), Suryakumar Yadav (39) and Deepak Hooda (33).
Opting to bat first, India got off to a strong start. Captain Rohit Sharma hit medium pacer Sam Curran for four in the first over and Reece Topley hit two fours in the second over. He continued to look good, hitting spinner Moeen Ali for two boundaries in the next over before wicketkeeper Jos Buttler was dismissed with the help of safe hands. After a solid start of 29 runs off 17 balls with Ishan Kishan, Rohit came back with a 14-ball 24.
Deepak Hooda was at number three and announced his arrival in the fifth over by hitting Moeen Ali for two consecutive sixes. A struggling Kishan returned to the pavilion on 8 off 9 balls, was dismissed after Moeen hit the top edge of his willow with the bat and went straight to Matt Parkinson at short fine leg. India were at 46-2.
This brought Suryakumar Yadav to the crease. Hooda continued with his attacking strokeplay, taking India to 66/2 at the end of their powerplay, with him (29*) and Suryakumar Yadav (4*). Hooda and Yadav continued to hit the English bowlers for some big hits and had some good running between the wickets. In the ninth over, pacer Chris Jordan dismissed Hooda for 33 runs in 17 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes. The 43-run stand between Hooda-Yadav came to an end and the score was reduced to 89/3 for India after Tymal Mills took a good catch at short backward square.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya was at number two at the crease. In the tenth over, he hit two brilliant boundaries off Parkinson, one of which hit the bowler over the bowler’s head in the long-off area. India crossed the hundred-run mark in 9.4 overs. At the end of 10 overs, India were on 105/3 with Hardik Pandya (10*) and Suryakumar Yadav (25*).
For a while, both continued to smash the bowlers for some big hits. The partnership was cut-short for 37 after the ball that struck Suryakumar’s thumb went straight into Butler’s hands, which saw them smash an impressive 19-ball 39. India were now at 126/4 in 11.4 overs.
All-rounder Axar Patel, who bowled at number two, was at the crease. The Pandya-Patel pair feasted on spin from Liam Livingstone, hitting three boundaries in their over. The duo continued ticking the scoreboard, taking India to a score of 150 in the 14th over.
At the end of 15 overs, with Hardik Pandya (40*) and Axar Patel (8*), India were in a commanding position at 157/4. Wickets had fallen for India, but thanks to his run rate and intention, India had the upper hand. The Patel-Pandya pair kept the England bowlers looking for wickets. It was Parkinson who struck for England in the 17th over, scoring 17 off 11 balls and sending Axar back after he was caught in the cover area by Jason Roy while attempting to go big. Half the Indian team was back in the hut on 171 runs.
Pandya soon completed his maiden T20I fifty. Dinesh Karthik was at the crease to help India go through the death overs without any further loss. Tople dismissed Pandya for 51 off 33 when debutant Harry Brooke caught him at deep point position.
Harshal Patel was at the crease at number two. Dinesh Karthik started the last over with two boundaries. However on the next balls, bowler Tymal Mills had the last laugh, dismissing Karthik for 11 when he was caught by Curran in an attempt to play big. Harshal Patel was run out on the very next ball.
India finished their innings on 198/8 with Arshdeep Singh (2*) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1*). England had made a mini comeback in the last four overs. India could manage only 33 runs in this phase and lost four wickets. Chris Jordan was the bowlers’ choice for England with 2/23. Moeen Ali also took 2/26. Topley, Mills, Parkinson got one wicket each.