Indian allrounder Hardik Pandya scored his first half-century of the T20 World Cup 2022 when it was most needed. Pandya scored 63 runs in 33 balls with four fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 190.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, was asked to bat first against England in the second semifinals of the T20 World Cup 2022. The Men in Blue are hoping to win the game and advance to the finals.
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KL Rahul succumbed early in another big match, leaving Rohit and Kohli to do the repair work; the pair kept the game going without making England sweat. The game, however, was turned in England’s favour by a few wickets in the middle overs, including that of Suryakumar Yadav.
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The next player to join Kohli was Hardik, who initially struggled to get going before playing a brilliant innings that helped India reach a total of 168. Pandya appeared to be struggling while Indian star batter Virat Kohli was holding the innings. However, Pandya played an explosive innings after 15 overs had been bowled.
Pandya was at 4 in 9 balls in the 14th over, but in the 17th over, he changed gears and reached 24 runs in 21 balls. He kept the momentum going, scoring 37 runs in 25 balls by the end of the 18th over.
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But we saw the best of him in the last two overs of India’s innings, when they were 136 for 4. Pandya hit two fours and one six in Sam Curran’s 19th over. In the same over, he scored his 29-ball fifty as well.
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Moreover, the drama was unfolding in the final over of the match as Rishabh Pant sacrificed his wicket and the strike went to Pandya. He did not disappoint and made the most of the opportunity. He hit a six and a four on the fourth and fifth balls of the over, but got out on the final ball.
