“1st 50 after 16 years”- Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya power India to 169 in 4th T20I vs South Africa
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Dinesh Karthik
In the fourth match between India and South Africa, the latter won the toss and opted to bowl first. India gave them a target of 170 in 20 overs. Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya were the two batsmen who helped reach that target. Dinesh Karthik even scored his maiden T20I fifty after 16 years.
Both Dinesh Karthik and Hardik made a comeback to international cricket after showing off their staggering form in the recently concluded IPL 2022. Hardik Pandya scored the highest run for his team, also leading them to win their maiden trophy in Gujarat Titans’ first ever appearance in an IPL season. While Dinesh Karthik awed everyone with his finishing hittings while representing Royal Challengers Bangalore.
When both the batsmen finally got the golden chance to prove what they are capable of, they did it in style. Pandya’s score in the previous T20Is matches were impressive but here, it was Karthik who stole the limelight. India were in a pathetic condition when the openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan had to take a walk back to the dressing room for just 5 and 27 runs respectively. Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant’s score read 4 and 17 respectively.
Hardik Pandya played responsibly and smashed three boundaries and three sixes, scoring 46 runs off 31 balls at a strike rate of 148.39. But in the 18.2 over, he fell prey to Lungi Ngidi’s short and wide ball which Pandya played with a thick outside edge and made the ball fly towards the deep backward point where Tabraiz Shamsi dived to his right to catch it.
Dinesh Karthik’s strike rate of 203 must have given you the idea of his score. He played 27 balls to score 55 runs with nine fours and two sixes. It was in the 19.2 overs that Dwaine Pretorius got rid of him. Pretorius bowled a full delivery and the ball went flat towards deep square leg where Rassie van der Dussen moved to his right and caught it.
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Gouri Das
(4697 Articles Published)