Twitter Reactions: Hardik Pandya's belligerence at the death helps India seal the T20I series against Australia
The 46-run stand between Iyer and Pandya provide decisive as India went up 2-0 in the series Down Under.
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After two straight losses in the ODI series, the successive victories in the last ODI and the first T20I at Canberra meant that India rode into the second T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground with a decent bit of winning momentum. With a practice game going on between India A and Australia A only a few miles ago in the morning, both the teams had made some changes in the personnel.
Australia was already grappling with fitness issues as their skipper Aaron Finch picked up a hip injury, and when Matthew Wade came out at the toss, it was clear that he was missing from their ranks. Having won the toss, Virat Kohli invited the hosts to bat first.
Australia dominates the Powerplay again
Coming to play multiple responsibilities (that of opening and leading), Matthew Wade did his job perfectly as he took Australia to a flying start, bringing both Deepak Chahar and Washington Sundar in the line of fire. The Indians lacked the guile with the ball and Wade pounced on to the opportunity in such great style that the absence of Warner and Finch was barely felt.
The 46-run opening stand, where D’Arcy Short ensured to pass the strike to the free-flowing Wade, was brought to an end by a spectacular catch Shreyas Iyer off T Natarajan as Short holed straight to deep midwicket. Meanwhile, Wade raced off to a stunning fifty that included 10 boundaries and six. However, he perished on 58 in a rather ludicrous run out dismissal.
Smith and Maxwell’s middle-phase brilliance
In at No. 3, Steve Smith opened his wide repertoire of strokes as he, alongside Glenn Maxwell, swung pressure back on the Indians. The duo briskly added 45 for the third wicket and ensured to rotate the strike with equal ease.
However, after racing off to 22 of 13, Maxwell was undone by a slower ball from Shardul Thakur as he was caught at backward point. Despite the wickets, Australia managed to consistently maintain a run rate of around 10 as Moises Henriques entered to join Steve Smith (46 from 38). Some later acceleration from Henriques (26 from 18) and Marcus Stoinis (16 from 7) the duo le Australia to post 194 at the loss of 5 wickets.
India’s quickfire start
Indian openers – KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan – were in the groove from the word go as the duo added 50 in just 5 overs. However, the 56-run stand was brought to an end when the former was deceived by a knuckleball from Andrew Tye, which he deposited straight into the hands of Swepson at deep point. Indians ensured that they did not lose wickets in heaps as Dhawan and Virat Kohli added 39 for the second wicket.
Soon after completing a well-made 50, Dhawan departed in an attempt to slog Zampa, only to find the fielder at deep square. Sanju Samson showed some intent in his 15-run knock, which included a six and a four, although he was dismissed by Swepson, as the right-hander slammed a short of a length delivery to long on. Virat Kohli looked promising for his 40, but his dismissal meant that the team was in a spot of bother.
That is when Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya joined hands to steady the shaky ship of the team. Pandya, doing what he does the best, slammed a match-winning 42 off just 22, which included 3 fours and 2 sixes (in the ultimate over). The 46-run stand between Iyer and Pandya provide decisive as India went up 2-0 in the series Down Under.
Here is how the Twitter reacted:
That's as clutch as they come from Hardik Pandya! 💥💥💥
Final scorecard: https://t.co/KEpZrVTqWs#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/hbf5u37gqP
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 6, 2020
Has to be among the most feared finishers in the game. @hardikpandya7
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 6, 2020
Hardik ‘Hard-Hitting’ Pandya 🥳😇
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 6, 2020
Was it the bat that he changed? @hardikpandya7 #IndvsAus
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) December 6, 2020
#AusvInd https://t.co/TPjLgHAvO7 pic.twitter.com/xxAGUiyRuG
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 6, 2020
Hardik Pandya is really priming himself into a top notch finisher. That is some serious power and poise.
— Ian bishop (@irbishi) December 6, 2020
2-0!
Excellent series for India. T Natarajan the biggest positive for India.
Hardik's runs in ODIs and T20Is, always a treat.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) December 6, 2020
MI vs DC – MI win. Nothing new. #AUSvIND
— Manya (@CSKian716) December 6, 2020
Hardik Pandya – what an MVP. Scored 42 runs in just 21 balls, finished the game with 2 sixes in the final over. What a win for India, they've sealed the T20i series as well now. pic.twitter.com/eCZlyAlfS5
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 6, 2020
Wow wee @hardikpandya7, his approach is very simple. A strong open base, doesn’t look to play the cute shoots, instead backs himself to clear the boundary…with ease!! 😱
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) December 6, 2020
Whattey Fantastic Chase. Take a bow @hardikpandya7 #AusvInd
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) December 6, 2020
Now this is amazing…No not Just the win but this Temperament of yours @hardikpandya7
— Samip Rajguru (@samiprajguru) December 6, 2020
Hardik Pandya has truly matured as a a batsman. No longer just a bully against spinners. Calibrates the innings with more thought and skill. Terrific tour Down Under he's having. #IndvAus
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) December 6, 2020
Hardik Pandya !!! 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀🏏👀👀👀👀👀👀👀 #AUSvIND
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 6, 2020
#KungfuPandya & #ShreyasIyer just wow! #AUSvIND
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) December 6, 2020
https://twitter.com/calferguson12/status/1335550315232313346?s=20
Difficult but not impossible! Common #Hardik & #Shreyas 👊🏽#AUSvIND
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) December 6, 2020
Virat DeVilliers 🥳
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 6, 2020
Love how @hardikpandya7 plays 🏏 Serious intent and self belief
— Robin John Peterson (@robbie13flair) December 6, 2020
Pandya and that wonder bat. What a beast. 🏏
— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) December 6, 2020
Decent game of cricket, that #AUSvIND
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) December 6, 2020
Sydney, 2016: Raina and Yuvraj get 17 off the final over 👏
Sydney, 2020: Hardik and Iyer get 14 off the final over 👏#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #AUSvIND
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) December 6, 2020
This is India’s 10th consecutive victory in T20Is. 195 is also the second highest target successfully chased at SCG in T20Is.#AUSvsIND #INDvsAUS
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) December 6, 2020
What a win. What a finish from @hardikpandya7 Well done Team India. Congrats on the series win. #INDVAUSt20
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 6, 2020
Zabardast hitting by @hardikpandya7 .
Wonderful start from @SDhawan25 and @klrahul11 , @imVkohli and a sensational bowling spell from @Natarajan_91 . And India seal the T20 series with a game to go. Maza aa gaya. pic.twitter.com/VDgb6CwT33— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 6, 2020
Nailed it!
What a chase! 🔥#AUSvIND— Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli349) December 6, 2020
Hardik Pandya 👏🏽
— Shai Hope (@shaidhope) December 6, 2020
Winning it in style with a six @hardikpandya7 what an inn.. well done team @BCCI for leading the series by 2-0 .. Go for 3-0 👏👍
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 6, 2020
What a win !! Well played team 🇮🇳 INDIA #natrajan #pandyakafunda – u guys rock !! Congratulations To the men in blue for the series win !! #indvsausT20
— Mithun Manhas (@MithunManhas) December 6, 2020
Hardik pandya is one of the most calm cool and clean hitter of the ball top class @hardikpandya7 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) December 6, 2020
Hardik Pandya you did not just do that? 😱😍😍😍 #AUSvIND
— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) December 6, 2020
T.Natarajan for MOM #AUSvsIND #CricitwithBadri
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) December 6, 2020
Unbelievable hitting from @hardikpandya7! We need to get some stats on that bat… It doesn’t miss 🔥 #AUSvIND @abcsport @FoxCricket
— Callum Ferguson (@calferguson12) December 6, 2020
Brilliant victory !! Absolute team performance .. we looking so so good in this format of the game 😍#indvsausT20 #bcci #cricket
— Rohan Gavaskar (@rohangava9) December 6, 2020
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