Hardik Pandya continued his stellar record against Pakistan with an 87-run knock in India’s Asia Cup 2023 opener at Palleke International Cricket Stadium on September 2. Pandya broke former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif’s record of highest score by a no.6 batter against Pakistan in ODIs.
Yuvraj had scored a 62-ball 78 against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata in 2004. Kaif had scored 78 runs from 88 balls against Pakistan in Kanpur in 2005.
Rohit’s record broken too
Also, Pandya broke Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s Asia Cup record. Rohit held the record for the highest individual score for an Indian batter at no.6 in ODI Asia Cup. Rohit had scored 58 runs from 71 balls against Pakistan in Karachi in 2008. Apart from Pandy and Rohit, only Sanjay Manjrekar has scored a half-century at no.6 for India in ODI Asia Cup history.
Record-breaking partnership
Pandya walked out to bat after Shubman Gill played on against Haris Rauf. India were struggling for 66/4 in the 15th over. Pandya rebuilt the innings with Ishan Kishan. He took his time and played himself in. He reached his half-century from 62 balls in the 34th over.
Kishan and Iyer shared a 138-run partnership for the fifth wicket that helped India post 266 on the board. The previous-highest fifth-wicket partnership record belonged to Rahul Dravid and Kaif. They shared a 135-run partnership in Kanpur in 2005.
Opportunity missed
Pandya missed his maiden ODI century as Shaheen Afridi came back into the attack and deceived him with a slower ball. He scored 87 runs from 90 deliveries including seven fours and a six.
Had Pandya breached the three figures, he would have become the fifth batter in the world at no.6 position to score a century against Pakistan in ODI cricket history. Australia's Andrew Symonds (143 not out), England's Eoin Morgan (107 not out), Jos Buttler (103) and Bangladesh's Nasir Hossain (100) have achieved the feat so far.
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