1st T20I: Hardik Pandya’s all-round show fires India to 50-run win vs England

India defeated England by 50 runs in the first T20 International played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Thursday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

After opting to bat first, India posted a challenging 198 for eight. The team’s batting attack was led by Hardik Pandya who scored a blistering 33-ball 51. This was his first T20I half-century. Rohit Sharma (24 off 14 balls), Deepak Hooda (33 0ff 17), and Suryakumar Yadav (39 off 19) played fantastic cameos. 

England lost early wickets and were eventually all out for 148.  Hardik Pandya (4/33) took four wickets. Yuzvendra Chahal (2/32), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/10) and Harshal Patel (1/24) were the other wicket-takers. Arshdeep Singh (2/18) scalped two wickets on his international debut.

For England, Chris Jordon (2/23) and Mooen Ali (2/26 in 2 overs) picked up two wickets each. Reece Topley (1/34), Tymal Mills (1/35) and Matthew Parkinson (1/44) also scalped one each.

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Pandya won the Player of the Match award.

“The last time I played a T20 in England, I think I took 4 wickets and scored some 30. So I kind of knew I was the first Indian to score fifty and take 4 wickets. I am enjoying my cricket right now. For me a lot of time goes into the preparation to get my body ready. The kind of break I took before this run of play I want to capitalize on the opportunities. I felt I needed that break. It is about giving your 100% and when you don’t do that, there is no point playing. So I needed that break and now I am happy to be in this place right now,” Hardik Pandya said at the post-match presentation ceremony. 

Brief scores: India: 198 for 8 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 51; Chris Jordon 2/23, Moeen Ali 2/26).

England: 148 all out in 19.3 overs (Moeen Ali 36; Hardik Pandya 4/33).