Hardik proves the difference in tense India-Pakistan clash

Hardik Pandya cracked open the game for India with both ball and bat to take them to a tense win over Pakistan with two balls to spare. He bowled with pace and venom, using the short ball perfectly on a pitch with steep bounce to return figures of 4-0-25-3 and restrict Pakistan to 147. On a tacky pitch, India never really broke away from Pakistan until Hardik hit three boundaries in the 19th over. Even in the 20th, Mohammad Nawaz brought it to six required off three, but Hardik sealed it with a flat six over long-on to end up with 33 off 17.

This was a gruelling match played in oppressive heat and humidity. As a result, both teams struggled to keep time and were penalised for slow over-rate. But while Hardik’s middle-overs wickets had made sure Pakistan couldn’t really exploit there being only four fielders in the deep – instead of the usual five – Hardik was himself there to cash in with the bat.

Pakistan were further hampered by their key death bowlers – Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf – going down with cramp even as they put up a spirited defence. In the end, they were left with Nawaz bowling the last over because India promoted Ravindra Jadeja when the two spinners – both turning the ball away from right-hand batters – had India in a choke hold in the middle overs. Jadeja immediately hit a six and a four off Nawaz, which meant they had to delay his final over. It also meant the asking rate never got to India because they knew they had that over left; as it happened, it was bowled with an extra fielder in the circle.