India, Jan. 29 -- Senior all-rounder Hardik Pandya failed to get India over the line in the third T20I as the hosts crumbled under pressure and blew the chance to take an unassailable lead in a five-match series. Chasing the 172-run target, India failed to hold their nerves on the slow track and were restricted to 145/9 in front of Adil Rashid (1/15), Jamie Overton (3/24) and Brydon Carse (2/28) in the middle overs.

Hardik, the Indian team's designated finisher, looked rusty at the start of his innings and exhausted too many deliveries before breaking the shackles. After the end of the 16th over, Hardik was batting on 23 off 27 balls. He did smash a six in the next over of Mark Wood's delivery and took his strike rate over 100.

The swas...