IND vs AUS 2017: Hardik Pandya Adjudged MoM As India Thrash Australia by 26 Runs
Sep 17, 2017 at 10:44 PM
India beat Australia by 26 runs in the rain- curtailed first ODI of Australia’s Tour of India, Courtesy Hardik Pandya’s heroics with both bat and ball. He was also adjudged the Man of the Match in the first ODI.
Batting first India’s top order collapsed as they lost Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli and Manish Pandey with India’s score at 11. Nathan Coulter-Nile rammed through India’s top order as he picked up the first three Indian wickets. Kedhar Jhadav and MS Dhoni tried to steady the Indian innings, but Jadhav failed to capitalize on the start and fell for 40 to Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis.
Hardik Pandya then came in with India tottering at 87/5 in 21.3 overs. He began his innings with a steady approach and tried to establish a partnership with Dhoni. It was only till the 37th over that he took the attack to Adam Zampa and hit him for three consecutive sixes in an over. Pandya 24 runs in that over.
He eventually went on to score 83 of 66 deliveries, and it was boost given by him that helped India reach a respectable total of 281/7 in 50 overs. Dhoni also played an anchoring role in the innings and scored 79 of 88 balls.
Rain interrupted play after the first innings and it D/L method came into play as the Australian innings was reduced to 21 overs and they required 164 runs.
Australian’s stumbled early in their innings and were reduced to 35/4in 8 overs. Pandya is doing the majority of the damage as he dismissed the Australian captain Steve Smith and Travis Head early. Pandya bowled gave away 28 runs in his quota of four overs picking up two crucial wickets.
Maxwell tried to rescue Australia and played an entertaining innings of 39 of 18 balls. However, this wasn’t enough as the Indian spinners got the better of the Australian middle order.
Australia was restricted to 137/9 in 21 overs as India won by 26 runs.
Hardik Pandya was adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance. In the post-match presentation he quoted-:
“A couple of catches could have helped. I don’t think anything has changed. I am the same Hardik I was a year back. Maybe people’s thinking was changed. To be honest, when Mahi bhai was batting with me, we knew what Zampa was going to bowl. I am glad I am doing with the bat and bowl.”