World Cup 2019: Hardik Pandya fails Sarfaraz Ahmed’s attempt to charge with a bouncer; laughs him off

India have strangled Pakistan in the middle overs in a steep chase at the Old Trafford in Manchester. Going after the mammoth total of 337 runs, the Men in Green were well placed at 117/1 in the 24th over at one stage. But Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya triggered a collapse as they lost four wickets for just 12 runs in the space of 19 deliveries. Hardik was oozing with confidence after picking two wickets and in the very next over he managed to outsmart the Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed who tried walking down the wicket to him.

India were hamstrung early in the defence with Bhuvneshwar Kumar leaving the field in the third over of his spell. Later it was also revealed that he won’t be taking further part in the match due to tightness in the left hamstring. With one bowler already down, Hardik Pandya needed to up his game and all-rounder didn’t disappoint at all. He scalped both the veterans in the opposition team, Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik, off consecutive deliveries in the 27th over.

He was on a hat-trick in his next over but Sarfaraz Ahmed played out the delivery really well to deny him any further glory. However, Pandya won the one-on-one battle with the Pakistan skipper off the very next delivery and wittily laughed at him.

Sarfaraz comes down the wicket

Sarfaraz Ahmed, off the second ball of the same over, walked down the wicket in order to disturb Hardik Pandya’s line and length. However, the bowler anticipated his early move and cleverly bowled a bouncer. The Pakistan captain was rather surprised and took evasive action while uncomfortably playing it. Pandya, meanwhile, in his followthrough, wittily laughed at Sarfaraz and a feeling of a small victory was brimming on his face.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is in tatters at the moment with Sarfaraz also getting out to Vijay Shankar. At 165/6 in the 35th over, India look set to make it 7-0 in the World Cup against them.

Here’s the video: