Hardik Pandya on Sunday recorded his best ODI figures, 4/24 in seven overs, in the third ODI vs England at the Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester on Sunday. After electing to bowl first, India dismissed Jos Buttler and co to 259 in 46 overs. 

Pandya bagged the wickets of Jason Roy (41), Ben Stokes (27), Jos Buttler (60) and Liam Livingstone (27). 

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The star Indian all-rounder got a wicket in his first over. He dismissed a well-set Roy with a close to off-stump delivery. The English opener was cramped for room as he tried to pull the short ball. He top-edged it and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant took an easy catch. 

In the 14th over, he again kept it tight on the off-stump only to see Stokes, who had already faced 28 balls, try a pull and then bail. The ball hit the England Test skipper’s upper bat and the bowler took a catch. 

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England were 74/4. 

However, the wicket Pandya might have enjoyed the most was Liam Livingstone. The hard-hitter had started counter-attacking the Indian bowlers. A good-length delivery outside off did him. 

Livingstone, who had pulled Pandya for a six two balls earlier, swung at the all-rounder only to see Ravindra Jadeja take an exceptional catch. The two had a mini-battle going on in the middle. In the second ODI, the Gujarat Titans skipper had given the Englishman a stare, as a send off, after dismissing him. 

Pandya then got rid of England captain Jos Buttler, who was batting on 60, in the same over. 

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Now, Hardik Pandya’s best performances in all three formats have come in England/ 

5 for 28 in Tests in England.

4 for 24 in ODI in England.

4 for 33 in T20I in England.

“Hardik Pandya is fast becoming India’s most important player in white-ball cricket. A fit Hardik is simply priceless. And yeah…you may try to find his replacements but there are none in India ATM,” batter turned commentator Aakash Chopra tweeted. 

“There were talks about Eng scoring 400 pre series, but the way Indian bowlers have bowled has been great to watch. Can’t remember last time Eng were so tied down in a home series. Boom wasn’t there today but @hardikpandya7 stepped and how ?? #ENGvIND,” Wasim Jaffer said on Twitter. 

India will need to chase down to 259 runs to win the match and series.