Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has developed himself as a finisher in the last few overs, who is known for producing big hits in death overs and taking his team to a competitive total. However, the right-hander failed to finish big during the second T20I against South Africa in Port Elizabeth on Sunday, November 10. Pandya remained unbeaten on 39 runs off 45 balls as India were restricted to 124/6 and eventually ended up losing the match by three wickets. Apart from his slow knock, Pandya has been getting criticism from the fans for his comment to Arshdeep Singh while batting in the second last over of the innings.
Hardik Pandya was batting with Arshdeep Singh in the last few overs of the innings. With 11 balls remaining, Arshdeep took a single giving Pandya a strike. After that, Pandya was caught on stump mic saying, "Enjoy from the other end now" to Arshdeep, who was standing on non-striker's end. However, the plan backfired on Pandya as the right-hander could only score six runs off the last 10 balls of the innings.
Hardik Pandya fails to finish big after ‘Enjoy from the other end’ to Arshdeep Singh
After taking a strike in the 19th over, Hardik Pandya failed to connect the first three balls and changed the strike on the last ball of the over through leg byes. Coming to bat in the last over of the innings, Pandya smashed a couple of deliveries towards the boundary rope but found the fielder there. The-right hander didn’t attempt to take a single or double and played till the last ball, scoring double and boundary to finish the innings as India posted 124/6 after 20 overs.
Defending a low target, India gave a tough fight to South Africa with Varun Chakravarthy registering his career-best figures of 5/17 as the hosts were reduced to 86/7 in 15.4 overs. However, Tristan Stubbs (47* off 41) and Gerald Coetzee (19* off 9) took the win away from India with an unbeaten partnership of 42 runs as South Africa chased the target in 19 overs, leveling the four-match series to 1-1.
