Twitter Reactions; Hardik Pandya Bags Maiden 5 Wicket Haul

Hardik Pandya produced a sensational piece of fast bowling and bagged his first five-wicket of his Test career on day 2 of the 3^rd Test against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. For the very first time in the series, Hardik looked threatening and made light work of the English batting line-up and ended up bagging 6 wickets for just runs.

Hardik Pandya’s brilliant spell 

India began the day’s play on 307/6. They would have hoped to have crossed the 350 mark but the English bowlers quite splendid in the opening session and didn’t allow the Indian tail to wag. After the fall of Rishabh Pant’s wicket to Stuart Broad, the visitors lost their last 4 wickets for just 6 runs. James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes returned with 3 wickets each.

The Indian bowlers were quite ordinary to start with. They conceded easy 46 runs before lunch was taken. However, their approach was quite different in the 2^nd session. They came all guns blazing and ran through the English top order. It was Ishant Sharma who provided the maiden breakthrough and it was followed up by a wicket from Jasprit Bumrah.

India quite sensational with the ball 

It was Ishant Sharma again to send back Ollie Pope to the dressing room. Hardik Pandya came into the attack and got the prized wicket of the English skipper Joe Root in his very first delivery. He bagged the wicket of Jonny Bairstow up next and literally ran through the tail. His next three wickets included the likes of Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid and Stuart Broad.

He well in the full-length area and he was rewarded with his first ever five-wicket haul in international cricket. It was indeed a special spell from Hardik who faced severe criticism from every quarter for his below-par performances in the first two Tests. He will definitely have his tale up from the next innings after the wonderful performance today. Hardik eventually finished with an exceptional spell of 5/28 as they bowled England out for a paltry 161 runs.

Here is who Twitterati reacted after the wonderful spell from Hardik

Lunch: England 46/0
Tea: England 161

Pandya's stunning spell rips through the hosts to put India in firm control at Trent Bridge, but Jos Buttler's late hitting helps avoid the follow-on and keep India's lead to 168 runs.#ENGvIND LIVE ➡️ https://t.co/3x88SzxNtJ pic.twitter.com/AW3rvC6pPR

— ICC (@ICC) August 19, 2018

Rishabh Pant now the first Indian wicket-keeper to claim 4 catches in an inns on Test debut! #EngvInd

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 19, 2018

Innings Break!

Oh boy! What a session #TeamIndia bowlers have had. England all out for 161, trail India (329) by 168 runs.

First 5-wkt haul for @hardikpandya7 in Test cricket.

Live – https://t.co/4cMWTbVEFC #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/eHY752x46t

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 19, 2018

Three wickets and counting for Hardik Pandya at Trent Bridge https://t.co/tUtczuTVoN #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/OjqyornOym

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 19, 2018

And that's a wrap. Bumrah sends Buttler packing. @hardikpandya7's 5 wicket haul puts ?? on top.

Eng: 161 all out.

?? lead by 168 runs.#ENGvIND #PlayBold

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) August 19, 2018

Fantastic cricket, both in front and behind the wickets. Congratulations @hardikpandya7 and @RishabPant777 on your respective 5 wicket hauls! Let’s nip this in the bud now. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/lNDVRbQFPc

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 19, 2018

Five wickets for Pandya. And I was advocating for his exclusion for a frontline batsman. Ouch. ???? #EngvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 19, 2018

Day 1 – second session; wicketless one for India.

Day 2 – second session; 10-wickets with the ball.

England skittled out for 161 at Trent Bridge at Tea.

Hardik Pandya the hero with the ball with a maiden five-for.

Advantage India. #ENGVIND pic.twitter.com/UwOucl4yCg

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) August 19, 2018

All OUT in 38.2 Overs ….. I bet Jimmy & Broady are delighted with only a few hrs Rest !!!!! #Wtf #EngvInd

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 19, 2018

Fewest Tests taken for both a hundred & a five-for
(for India)
3 R Ashwin
4 Lala Amarnath
6 Vinoo Mankad
7 Dattu Phadkar
10 Salim Durani
10 Kapil Dev
10 HARDIK PANDYA#ENGvIND

— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) August 19, 2018

Fantastic session for India.
What a treat to watch the Indian fast bowlers swinging the ball and taking 10 wickets in a session!
Excellent viewing on a Sunday evening as India gets a massive 168 run lead.#ENGvIND

— Ajay Srinivasan (@Ajaychairman) August 19, 2018