Hardik Pandya creates history with 16-ball fifty, surpasses Yuvraj Singh to claim record

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya delivered a sensational performance on Friday in Ahmedabad during the fifth and final T20I against South Africa, powering India to a series-clinching victory. With a stunning display of both batting and bowling, Pandya not only guided India to a big win but also broke a long-standing record held by Yuvraj Singh.

Walking in to bat, Hardik attacked the South African bowlers from the outset and dealt almost exclusively in boundaries. He brought up his half-century in just 16 balls, making it the second-fastest fifty by an Indian in T20 internationals. Pandya went on to score 63 runs off 25 balls, smashing five sixes and five fours. His explosive innings helped India post a massive total of 231 for five in 20 overs.

This was the fourth instance in international T20 cricket where Hardik Pandya scored a half-century and also picked up one or more wickets in the same match. With this, he moved past Yuvraj Singh, who had achieved this feat three times. Virat Kohli and Shivam Dube have done it twice each.

For his outstanding all-round show, Hardik Pandya was named Player of the Match. This was also his second half-century of the series. In the opening match, he had scored an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls and claimed one wicket.

In the fifth T20I, India, after losing the toss, piled up 231 runs with key contributions from Tilak Varma (73), Hardik Pandya (63), Sanju Samson (37) and Abhishek Sharma (34). South Africa managed 201 for eight in reply and lost the match by 30 runs. Quinton de Kock top-scored for the visitors with 65, while Varun Chakravarthy starred with the ball for India, taking four wickets.