Watch: Hardik Pandya was at his threatening best against Australia with the bat in the first T20I, scoring an unbeaten 71 in 30 deliveries, which included three consecutive sixes in the last three balls of the innings.
Walking in to bat at 103-3 in the 12th over, Hardik started off aggressively, hitting a maximum off the fourth delivery that he faced. He did not let the momentum slip, reaching his second T20I fifty in 25 deliveries. He went on a rampage thereafter, scoring 20 runs in his next five balls, which included three huge sixes.
The fourth ball of the 20th over, by Cameron Green, was pulled by Hardik towards deep mid-wicket, who then went on to loft a full-length delivery over long-off. The batter uppercut a shorter delivery outside off next, easily sending the ball over deep backward point.
His carnage helped India post 208-6 on the board. It was his highest T20I score and his strike rate of 236.67 was the highest that Hardik has managed in an innings when he crossed 35 for India.
