Kamal Ghorui
India won their Super 8 match against Zimbabwe in Chennai by 72 runs. All-rounder Hardik Pandya said it was ‘it was a good game to continue the rhythm’ as India aim for a semi-final spot.India batted first, and the top-order players gave a strong start.
Hardik Pandya was named Player of the Match for his excellent all-round performance. He scored an unbeaten 50 off 23 balls and then bowled 3 overs for just 21 runs.After taking his award during the post-match presentation, Pandya said, “Pretty happy. It sounds 23-ball-50, but I think I had to reassess the situation as well. I felt I was trying to hit too hard. And just in the game, I realised, I think I can time the ball and hit sixes as well. It was a good game to continue the rhythm because I feel a couple of games I had, I could not do what I wanted to do.”When asked if he was following the earlier game between South Africa and West Indies, Pandya said, “Obviously, we all were keeping an eye. Now it’s all about playing good cricket, backing your skill set, absorbing the pressure, and making sure that you put the best foot forward. So yeah, definitely we were keeping an eye, but at the same point of time, once the game got over, we focused on the fact that this is our game. We need to focus on this.“Chasing a big target of 257 runs, Zimbabwe managed 184/6 in 20 overs. Brian Bennett played brilliantly, scoring an unbeaten 97 off 59 balls.Hardik Pandya didn’t take any wickets but bowled 3 economical overs for just 21 runs.Talking about his bowling, Pandya said, “Pretty good, I think. I like bowling with the new ball. It swings. I mean, God has been kind. I have the skillset of bowling inswing and outswing. So I really enjoy. I think it gives me the opportunity to take wickets as well. It challenges the batter as well. So yeah, pretty satisfied. I still have to bowl my one over, which I’m going to go after this.”Now, India will play their last Super 8 match against the West Indies on Sunday, while Zimbabwe will face South Africa in Delhi, aiming for a consolatory win.Brief Scores: India: 256/4 (Abhishek Sharma 55, Hardik Pandya 50*, Blessing Muzarabani 1/43) beat Zimbabwe: 184/6 in 20 overs (Brian Bennett 97*, Sikandar Raza 31, Arshdeep Singh 3/24).
