CRICKET | A Hardik particular provides Baroda a spectacular win over Tamil Nadu

Baroda‘s Hardik Pandya in motion in opposition to Tamil Nadu within the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy cricket match on the Holkar Stadium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

When Hardik Pandya walked out to bat underneath lights to thunderous cheers on the Holkar Stadium on Wednesday, Baroda wanted one other 101 runs from 44 deliveries with six wickets in hand in its Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy conflict in opposition to Tamil Nadu.

It was an inconceivable ask, however there’s a motive why Hardik is a T20 World Cup winner with greater than 100 worldwide appearances within the shortest format. He responded with a sensational onslaught, hitting 69 off 30 balls, as his staff chased down 222 with three wickets in hand off the ultimate ball of the competition.

Hardik although wasn’t there proper on the shut. He was dismissed off the primary ball of the twentieth over after an outstanding direct hit from Vijay Shankar at deep midwicket discovered the star all-rounder brief on the striker’s finish whereas trying to get again for the second run.

It led to wild celebrations from Tamil Nadu’s gamers, who maybe thought the match was gained. However with the equation boiling right down to Baroda needing 4 runs from the ultimate supply, Atit Sheth slashed at a large ball from M. Mohammed over brief third man to make sure Hardik’s knock wasn’t in useless.

Baroda‘s Atit Sheth in motion in opposition to Tamil Nadu within the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy cricket match on the Holkar Stadium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
| Picture Credit score:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Of Hardik’s seven sixes, 4 got here in a 30-run seventeenth over bowled by left-arm seamer Gurjapneet Singh. At the beginning of this over, Baroda had wanted 66 runs off 24 balls. By the tip of it, the required charge had whittled down significantly as Hardik tore into Chennai Tremendous Kings’ new acquisition.

Tamil Nadu can nonetheless take coronary heart from its dominant batting show. Despatched in by Baroda captain Krunal Pandya, it reached its third consecutive 200-plus complete on the again of one other half-century from N. Jagadeesan. M. Shahrukh Khan and Vijay Shankar flexed their big-hitting prowess, too, in a 75-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Even Hardik wasn’t spared on his introduction into the assault after the Powerplay. His first over went for 13 runs, his second for 11, and his third for 20, leading to untidy figures of 3-0-44-0. It, maybe, spurred Hardik to have his payback by the tip of the competition.

The scores: Tamil Nadu 221/6 in 20 overs (N. Jagadeesan 57, Vijay Shankar 42 n.o., M. Shahrukh Khan 39, Lukman Meriwala 3/41) misplaced to Baroda 222/7 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 69, Bhanu Pania 42, Varun Chakravarthy 3/43); Toss: Baroda, Factors: Tamil Nadu 0 (8), Baroda 4 (12).