Hardik Pandya creates HISTORY, becomes first-ever IPL captain to…

Pandya scripts history with fifer against LSG

Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya recorded his maiden 5-wicket haul in T20 cricket as the Mumbai-based franchise gave an impressive bowling performance, but Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) rode on superb half-centuries from Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram to post 203/8 on Friday.

Pandya returned with magnificent figures of 5/36, taking the wickets of Markram (53 off 38 balls), Nicholas Pooran (12), Rishabh Pant (2), David Miller (27) and Akash Deep (0), putting brakes on LSG’s innings after the home team was put in to bat.

LSG were off to a great start with opener Marsh hitting his third half-century in four matches. His 60 came off just 31 balls and was studded with nine fours and two sixes.

With the other opener Markram also in good nick, LSG were 69 for no loss at the end of power play. But MI came back after that with Pandya making crucial bowling changes.

Left-arm wrist spinner Vignesh Puthur, who had starred in MI’s win over Chennai Super Kings, was introduced in the seventh over and he gave the breakthrough immediately. He had Marsh caught and bowled, breaking the dangerous-looking opening stand of 76 runs.

Pandya then brought himself into action and had Pooran in the ninth over before getting the prized wicket of LSG captain Pant (2) who got out cheaply once again.

Pandya then went on to take massive wickets of Markram and David Miller before dismissing LSG debutant Akash Deep in the final over to clinch his highly impressive 5-wicket haul.

Thanks to the skipper’s heroic spell, the Mumbai-based franchise were able to restrict LSG for just over 200 runs otherwise the total could have been even bigger.