Daijiworld Media Network - Rajkot

Rajkot, Jan 3: Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya delivered a breathtaking innings to register his first-ever List A century, spearheading Baroda’s fightback against Vidarbha in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Saturday.

Baroda were in deep trouble when Pandya walked in at No. 7, with the scoreboard reading a precarious 71 for five after 20 overs. Showing composure early on, Pandya began by steadying the innings and rotating the strike before reaching his half-century off 44 deliveries.

Once set, the Baroda skipper shifted gears dramatically. Pandya needed just 24 more balls to move from fifty to a hundred, unleashing a stunning assault that included a remarkable 39th over yielding 34 runs. In that over alone, he hammered five sixes and a four, racing to his century in just 68 balls.

Pandya’s innings eventually came to an end at 133 off 92 balls, a knock studded with 11 towering sixes and eight boundaries. His counter-attacking effort lifted Baroda to a competitive total of 293 for 50 overs, despite little support from the other batters, none of whom managed to cross the 30-run mark.

For Vidarbha, Yash Thakur was the standout bowler, claiming four wickets, while Nachiket Bhute and Parth Rekhade chipped in with two wickets apiece to keep the opposition in check.

Saturday’s match marked Pandya’s first appearance for Baroda this season. Across his List A career, he has now featured in 119 matches, including 94 ODIs for India, eight games for India A and 17 outings for Baroda. He has amassed 2,300 runs in the format and claimed 110 wickets.

Pandya’s red-hot form continues to impress selectors. He recently scored 142 runs at a striking rate of 186.84 in the India–South Africa five-match T20I series, signalling a strong return after a lengthy injury layoff. With India’s ODI squad for the upcoming New Zealand series set to be announced, his performance could not have come at a better time.