NEW DELHI: Hardik Pandya's incredible form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) continued on Friday, as the star all-rounder smashed a fiery 47 off just 23 balls to lead Baroda to a dominant seven-wicket victory over Tripura at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.
Pandya's carnage included five towering sixes and three fours, with left-arm spinner P Sultan bearing the brunt in a single over that went for 28 runs. The over read: 6, 0, 6, 6, 4, 6, a display of Pandya's ruthless batting.
Baroda chased down Tripura's modest 110-run target in just 11.2 overs, powered by Pandya's onslaught.
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This follows Pandya's similarly destructive performance against Tamil Nadu, where he clobbered 69 off 30 balls, including 29 runs in one over bowled by Gurjapneet Singh, Chennai Super Kings' latest recruit. That over also featured four consecutive sixes, underlining Pandya's lethal form.
Earlier in the tournament, Pandya played two unbeaten match-winning knocks - 41 off 21 balls against Uttarakhand and 74 off 35 balls versus Gujarat. His consistent power-hitting has been a major highlight of this year's SMAT.
Playing in the domestic T20 tournament after a long gap, Hardik is making his presence felt under the captaincy of elder brother Krunal Pandya.
Pandya's blistering form has energized Baroda's campaign, positioning them as strong contenders in this year's SMAT.
