Hardik Pandya slams maiden List A ton, helps Baroda reach formidable total vs Vidarbha in VHT

Hardik Pandya brought up his first-ever List A hundred in Baroda's encounter against Vidarbha in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The star all-rounder rescued the team from 71/5 and ensured that they reached a trotal close to 300 by the end of 50 overs. The 32-year-old previously had 13 half-centuries to his name in List A cricket, but now has a hundred to show as well.

After being invited to bat first, Baroda had a dismal start as the in-form Amit Passi got dismissed for a duck in the second over. Nitya Pandya would be the next man to go as Nachiket Bhute got his second scalp of the innings in the sixth over. Both Priyanshu Moliya and Atit Sheth got dismissed for cheap before Jitesh Sharma also went back to the pavilion for just nine runs. Baroda had now lost five of their wickets with only 71 runs on the board.

Krunal and Hardik's highly-important stand

They were in desperate need of a strong partnership and they got it with brothers Krunal and Hardik Pandya helping the side go well-over the 100-run mark. Hardik was clearly the aggressor among the two and started smashing bowlers right from the get-go. He played in an explosive manner and helped in significantly increasing the side's run-rate. However, Krunal failed to contribute much from the other end and got dismissed for 23 runs, leaving Baroda at 136/6.

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The  wicket wouldn't stop Hardik as he continued to bat in stunning fashion. He brought up a well-deservced fifty and formed another solid stand alongside Vishnu Solanki. Hardik took matters completely in his own hands after Solanki got dismissed for 26 runs in the 37th over. His partner Raj Limbani ensured that the all-rounder played most of the deliveries as Baroda's total went over the 200-run mark with many overs still left to play.

Hardik registers 68-ball ton

Hardik eventually brought up his hundred after facing just 68 deliveries and this was his first ton in the format in his 11-year career. He didn't stop scoring at a rapid pace even after reaching triple figures and took the team over the 250-run mark. His innings of 133 came to an end in the 46th over, but he had already done a phenomenal job with the bat.  The blistering knock included 9 boundaries and 11 towering sixes. Mahesh Pithiya and Karan Umatt's unbeaten cameos of 18 and 13 respectively as Baroda finished their 50 overs on 293/9.