Hardik Pandya (AFP Photo) NEW DELHI: Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya surpassed the legendary Yuvraj Singh to become the Indian with the most number of times to score a half-century and take at least one wicket in the same T20I. Pandya reached the milestone during the fifth and final T20I against South Africa on Friday.With a solid platform from openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, Pandya unleashed a brutal onslaught on the Proteas bowling attack alongside Tilak Varma, peppering the pitch with powerful and stylish boundaries. The pair added a crucial 105 runs for the fourth wicket to propel India to a formidable total.
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Pandya blasted 63 off just 25 balls, smashing five fours and five sixes at a staggering 252.00. He conceded 41 runs with the ball in three overs but claimed the crucial wicket of Dewald Brevis, who threatened to take the game away with a quick-fire 31 off 17 balls, including three fours and two sixes.Pandya now has four such half-centuries plus a wicket in T20Is for India – one more than Yuvraj. Also on the list is Virat Kohli, who achieved the feat against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup in 2012 and against the West Indies in 2016. Shivam Dube has done it twice.On his return to international cricket, Pandya finished as the third highest run-scorer of the series with 142 runs in three innings at an average of 71.00 and a strike rate of 186.84, including two match-winning half-centuries. He also took three wickets at an average of 38.00 with best figures of 1/16, although his economy rate of over 10 remained an issue.In the match, South Africa won the toss and decided to field. Samson (37 off 22) and Abhishek (34 off 21) made a sensational start with 63 opening stands. After a brief wobble, Tilak (73 off 42) and Pandya took India to 231/5, with Corbin Bosch (2/44) the outstanding bowler.Chasing 232, South Africa were riding smoothly with Quinton de Kock’s 65 off 35, but wickets fell regularly once Brevis was dismissed. Despite a promising start, the visitors were restricted to 201/8 and lost by 30 runs. Jasprit Bumrah (2/17) and Varun Chakravarthy (4/53) led the bowling attack.Pandya was named the Player of the Match while Varun was awarded the Player of the Series as India sealed a 3–1 series win.
