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Hardik Pandya's sensational all-round show and Rishabh Pant's stunning century guided India to an emphatic five-wicket triumph against England to ultimately seal the three-match ODI series 2-1 on Sunday.
After India were in a spot of bother at 72 for four in a chase of 260, the crack team of Pant (125 not out off 113 balls) and Hardik (71 off 55 and 4/24) engaged in a battle to outdo each other, as the tourists completed the task with 47 balls to spare.
Hardik grabbed a career-best 4/24 as a disciplined India bowled out England for 259 with more than four overs left in the innings.
Meanwhile, the 'Man of the Series' Hardik said he doesn't mind getting hit for sixes as long as he is picking up wickets. On the day, he also tasted success with the short ball. "I love short balls. Don't fancy people taking me on. Gets me into the game. Don't mind getting hit for six sixes also if I can get a wicket.
"I always feel I'm shameless as a bowler. Don't care how far I get hit," Hardik said.
Regarding Pant, he said, "We all know what talent he has. Finally today he was playing the situation. The partnership changed the game for us. The way he finished the game was also special."
Pant, who was named the Man-of-the-Match for his sublime 113-ball 125, hoped he would remember his first ODI hundred for the rest of his life.
"Hopefully I remember (this knock) for the rest of my life. I was focusing on one ball at a time when I was batting. When your team is under pressure and you bat like that .. something I aspire to do," Pant, who came in at 25 for two, said.
Skipper Jos Buttler top-scored for England with an 80-ball 60, but it was the flamboyant all-rounder from Gujarat, who dominated the first half of the match with his excellent bowling, sending out a warning to the opponents in the year of the T20 World Cup.
In the company of Hardik, Pant then showed his extraordinary skills with the bat as he smashed 16 fours and two sixes in his sublime knock at Old Trafford.
This was after lanky seamer Reece Topley (3/35) again proved to be the wrecker-in-chief by removing the trio of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in quick succession.
