Mumbai

Australia-bound Hardik Pandya enhanced his reputation as a big-hitter by smacking eight sixes in an unbeaten 86 to power Baroda to a six-wicket win over Vidarbha in the Group A cricket opener of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Super League here today.

The 46-ball pyrotechnics of the 22-year-old batsman, who has been picked in the Indian team for the T20 leg of the series in Australia that follows the ongoing ODI series Down Under, helped Baroda chase down their 163-run target in 19 overs at the Wankhede Stadium.

Coming in one-down after Baroda lost opener Kedar Devdhar for 29 in the sixth over, the right-handed batsman, who had smacked 34 runs in one over in the side’s last preliminary league phase game for a losing cause against Delhi in his home town, went hammer and tongs, especially after the 15th over when his team needed 63 off 30 balls.

He smashed three sixes in the first four balls of the 16th over bowled by left-arm spinner Ravi Jangid and, in the company of skipper Irfan Pathan (26 not out in 16 balls) and then two sixes and a four in the 19th over off seamer Ravi Thakur.

The winning hit by Pandya, who signalled his six-hitting prowess at this ground in the last IPL for Mumbai Indians, was a six over mid-wicket, a region he preferred to whack the bowlers to other than long on.

Pandya, who hit three fours and was also lucky to be let off on 25 at deep extra cover off Jangid, and the left-handed Irfan stitched together a partnership of 83 off just 37 balls to flatten Vidarbha’s hopes after the latter had prised out Mrudal Devdhar and two other big-hitters – Deepak Hooda and Yusuf – in quick succession.

Earlier, Vidarbha rode on a half century from Ganesh Satish (54 off 31 balls with 2 sixes and 6 fours) and useful contributions from opener Jitesh Sharma (35) and Apoorva Wankhede (40 in 24 balls) to post 162 for five in 20 overs.

Left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh bagged two wickets, while Irfan and Atit Sheth picked up a wicket each.

Brief scores: Vidarbha 162/5 in 20 overs (Jitesh Sharma 35, Ganesh Satish 54, Apoorv Wankhede 40; Swapnil Singh 2-41) lost to Baroda 168/4 in 19 overs (Hardik Pandya 86 not out, Irfan Pathan 26 not out; Ravi Jangid 2-36).

Points: Baroda 4, Vidarbha 0.

Want to carry form into T20 rubber in Australia: Pandya
Mumbai

Hard-hitting Baroda batsman Hardik Pandya wants to carry the form he’s currently showing in the domestic circuit into the upcoming three-game T20 series in Australia for which he has been picked by the selectors.

“Obviously when you get into the national side the confidence level goes very high. I knew I’ll get picked for the Australia series, so I had to put in more hard work in the practice sessions. So even that helped me a lot. The kind of form I’ve had in this tournament, I’m going (hoping) to carry it in Australia,” said the rookie after smashing 86 not out with eight sixes in 46 balls against Vidarbha here.

“I’ve been batting quite well in the league stages so I had to carry on with that form. One batsman should play till the end and I’m doing the role for Baroda.

“I was very happy when I was asked to bat at No. 3. I’m a proper batsman and I’ve always batted at No. 3. I’ve said this during IPL as well that if I take a few balls, I can cover it.

In today’s game as well, I started slowly and then shifted the gears,” he said.

Pandya said last season’s stint in the high-profile Indian Premier League for the Ricky Ponting-coached Mumbai Indians, the eventual champions, had helped a lot in his career which is on an upward curve presently.

“The experience and exposure you get in IPL is quite amazing. You get to meet Ricky Ponting and practice with him.

Even if I would have played for India, I don’t think he would have come and bowled at me. IPL has been a tremendous confidence booster for me. It helped me grow as a cricketer as well.

“He (Ponting) always tells the same thing that I need to keep working hard. Even (MI icon) Sachin (Tendulkar) said the same thing that you should keep working hard and the results will come,” Pandya said.

He said the ability to hit a flurry of sixes was built by him brick by brick.

“I ve been a proper batsman and I always had to bat at No. 3. My game was always about timing my shots. Later on, I added some power. When I was 16, I used to hardly clear 30 yards, but I still had the confidence to try and hit it over the fielder.” PTI

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