[Watch] Hardik Pandya cleaned up by classic Matheesha Pathirana yorker in IND-SL 1st T20I
Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was cleaned up by a cracking yorker by Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana in the T20I series opener at Pallekele on July 27. With India poised for a grand finish at 172/3 in 16 overs, Hardik thumped a straight boundary off the second ball of Pathirana's third over (17th of the innings).
However, the Sri Lankan death specialist got revenge with a searing yorker off the next delivery bowled at over 150 kmph. Hardik backed away in an attempt to hammer the delivery on the leg side but the ball flicked his pads and ricocheted onto the stumps.
Here is a video of Hardik being undone by a trademark Pathirana yorker:
The wicket brought to an end a scratchy knock by Hardik, finishing on nine from 10 deliveries. It was his first appearance for India after helping them pull off a miraculous win in the 2024 T20 World Cup final with the ball against South Africa.
Meanwhile, Pathirana had a night to remember with outstanding figures of 4/40 in his four overs. It is also his first T20I game against India and the youngster lived up to his billing, much to the delight of the massive home crowd.
Team India post a massive total despite Hardik Pandya's low score
Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, the Hardik Pandya dismissal was a rare high in an otherwise sorry performance with the ball.
After winning the toss and bowling first, the Lankan bowlers and fielders endured a torrid time against the onslaught of the Indian batters. The openers - Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal bludgeoned the new ball to propel India to 74/0 in the sixth over before the former fell in the final delivery of the powerplay.
A brief Lankan comeback was in the reckoning when Jaiswal was dismissed immidiately to leave India 74/2. However, skipper Suryakumar Yadav was having none of that as he smashed a scintillating 58 off 26 deliveries, including eight boundaries and two maximums.
He was well supported by Rishabh Pant, who finished on 49 from 33 to help India post a massive 213/7 in the 20 overs. Pathirana apart, leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was the other shining light for Sri Lanka, producing figures of 1/28 in four overs.
The home side have just begun their run-chase with the score reading 9/0 after the first over.