TIL Desk Sports/ A smashing half-century from all-rounder Hardik Pandya (51 off 33 balls) backed up by his superb bowling efforts (4/33 in 4 overs) gave India a huge 50-run win against the Jos Buttler-led England in the opening T20 International — a day-night game — at The Rose Bowl here late on Thursday.
Pandya carried his sublime form from the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the recently-concluded series against Ireland into the game against England, guiding the visitors to a massive 198/8 in 20 overs, before returning to bowl a fiery spell that saw the hosts bundled out for 148 in 19.3 overs. Pandya picked up where the top order left off, joining Suryakumar Yadav (39 off 19) in the blitz, keeping the run rate above 10-an-over in the crucial middle phase.
The side have now won 14 of the last 17 T20Is since the tournament, with a no result against South Africa in Bengaluru meaning the side has lost just twice in the same stretch. Pandya then returned with the ball to account for the dangerous opener Jason Roy (4), Dawid Malan (21), (Liam Livingstone 0) and Sam Curran (4) as England under new captain Buttler found the going tough from the start of their innings.
With Pandya giving such a commanding performance, and players like Deepak Hooda too contributing in a big way, it bodes well for the team as it prepares for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.
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