Hardik Pandya rescues India with timely half-century vs Australia in Chennai
Hardik Pandya’s third half-century rescued India after a top-order collapse in the first ODI against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
Hardik Pandya hit three consecutive sixes off Adam Zampa to race past his third ODI fifty in the first match against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. Pandya came to middle with India struggling at 87/5. (India vs Australia 1st ODI Highlights)
The India all-rounder eventually fell in the 41st over, for a career-best 83 off 66 balls, soon after carrying India past the 200-run mark. (India vs Australia 1st ODI Scores)
With MS Dhoni at the other end, Pandya took his time to get used to the pace of the pitch and resurrected the innings. Boundaries coming at a premium, Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni focused on running as many singles as possible on a sluggish outfield.
Pandya played a couple of cheeky ramp shots but otherwise was largely playing a safe game till Adam Zampa came to bowl the 36th over. Warming up to his big hitting with a straight shot that just cleared James Faulkner at mid-on, Pandya unleashed three sixes that stirred a frenzy in the crowd.
Expecting a similar shot, Zampa gave more flight to the next delivery but Pandya got under it to almost hit the roof of the stadium. He reached his fifty, off 48 balls, with another six over long-on before making space to hit a third consecutive six through the same region.
