Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya redeemed himself with a brilliant catch to dismiss Moeen Ali to almost pave India’s way to win the 3rd and final ODI against England and seal the series. The visitors have a monumental task of chasing 130 runs in just 19 overs with three wickets remaining.
Indian bowlers have looked right in the money from the start with Bhuvneshwar Kumar leading the pack. He removed both the openers to give England a jolt early in the run chase. Roy and Bairstow were two of the main architects behind England’s swift comeback in the 2nd ODI. Ben Stokes looked determined to continue his swashbuckling and also got a respite thanks to Hardik Pandya, who missed a dolly.
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However, the ace English all-rounder didn’t manage to add more to his tally as he holed out to Shikhar Dhawan off T Natarajan. Since then, England have lost wickets at regular intervals as the Men in Blues took complete control of the game. At one point, Liam Livingston and Dawid Malan tried to bail their side out of danger but Shardul Thakur was brilliant in the middle-overs to break the partnership and throw the visitors out of the game.
Hardik Pandya redeems himself with a brilliant catch
The slide continued as India put the final nail in the coffin thanks to a brilliant catch from Hardik Pandya, who redeemed himself with the catch off Moeen Ali. It was a neat and friendly full delivery outside off from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ali tried to hammer it but didn’t get the timing right. It was dying very quickly, but Hardik threw himself forward and snaffled it spectacularly.
Watch the video here:
— Cricsphere (@Cricsphere) March 28, 2021
Earlier in the day, the Indian openers were off to a fiery start, raised the 100 of the team in just the 14th over, but Adil Rashid brought his team back into the contest, with the wickets of the two openers. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul failed to get a start and at 157 for 4, things looked grim. Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya though had other ideas, they not only stitched a 99-run stand for the 5th wicket but did so in double-quick time.
But both fell when well-set, Krunal Pandya struggled for timing, Shardul Thakur managed a quickfire cameo, and then India lost 4 for 8 towards the end. So, in an effort to make a huge score, India have finished at 329 runs.