India Vs England: Pant-Pandya heroics clinch series for Team India

Rishabh Pant's maiden ODI century and Hardik Pandya's all-round show helped India beat England by 5 wickets in the series-decider at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday. The victory helped India clinch the three-match series 2-1.

Chasing a 260-run target, India's top-order faltered yet again as the Men In Blue were reduced to 72-4 in the 17th over. That’s when Hardik Pandya joined Rishabh Pant in the middle and together, they sent English bowlers on a leather hunt.

Also read: Pakistani & England greats come out in support of Virat Kohli

The duo stitched a counter-attacking 133-run stand for the 5th wicket before Brydon Carse got the wicket of Pandya, who finished with a 55-ball 71.

However, Pandya’s wicket didn’t stop Pant from continuing with his onslaught. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored his maiden ODI century to take the visitors home with 47 balls to spare.

Earlier, Mohammed Siraj rocked England's top-order early with the wickets of Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root in the very same over. Jason Roy and Ben Stokes then put up a counter-attacking 52-run stand before Pandya removed both the Englishmen in quick succession.

At 74-4, England were in a spot of bother. However, captain Jos Buttler first stitched a 75-run stand with Moeen Ali followed by a 49-run partnership with Liam Livingstone.

But Hardik Pandya returned again in middle overs and used the short deliveries to great effect to get rid of Livingstone and Buttler. Captain Buttler was the highest-scorer for the hosts with 60. Hardik’s career-best 4/24 bundled the hosts out for 259, a score India chased down in the 43rd over.