Indian National Cricket Team all-rounder Hardik Pandya made a significant entry in the fifth and final One-day International of India vs New Zealand 2019 Netmeds series at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Sunday (February 3). The right-handed all-rounder Pandya further powered India to 252 after smashing 22-ball 45. However, owing to his blazing show Pandya was caught by Trent Boult superbly on the bowling of Jimmy Neesham.
Pandya had confusion about whether it was a waist high ball:
The full toss from Neesham saw Pandya couldn’t make most of the opportunity. He attempted a full swing on the onside which resulted in ball skewing up in the air, as Boult claimed a brilliant running catch at the square-leg region.
But Pandya did not leave the crease straightaway before on-field umpire has asked for help from the third umpire Nigel Llong.
But the TV replays suggested the ball was well below the waist, as Pandya, who looked dejected had a long walk back to the pavilion.
However, the 27-year-old Barado all-rounder Pandya had done damage with the bat. His quickfire innings included five sixes and two fours. Pandya has often paid rich dividends with the bat at the fag end of the innings.
Interestingly, Pandya likes to go after the spinners. So far, he has smashed three sixes on the bowling of Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim and Adam Zampa in the 50-over format.
Pandya did the same while taking on leg-spinner Todd Astle.
The carnage unfolded in the 47th over.
The first six came off the second ball of the over when Astle bowled it a bit short which was enough for Pandya to smack the ball over wide long-on.
Eventually, Pandya, who couldn’t time the very next delivery. But the Wellington’s short dimensions saw it enough to see the ball clearing the boundary ropes. To make it three in three, Pandya smoked the ball over the midwicket region.
Earlier, interim skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first. But India lost three four quick wickets at the score of 18 in 9.3 overs. However, Ambati Rayudu (90) and Vijay Shankar (45) has shown promise to take India out of a precarious situation. For the fifth wicket, the duo registered crucial 98 runs. Down the order, Kedar Jadhav played a handy knock of 45-ball 24.
For the Black Caps, Matt Henry (4) and Trent Boult (3) shared seven wickets between them.
India vs New Zealand 2019: Here’s the video of Hardik Pandya’s dismissal:
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