Rashid and Overton then dismantled the middle order, leaving India in deep trouble at 85-5.
England Defeat India in Third T20I to Keep Series Alive. England bounced back in the T20 series against India, securing a 26-run victory in the third match on Tuesday in Rajkot. With the win, England reduced India’s lead to 2-1 in the five-match series.
Ben Duckett played a pivotal role in England’s total of 171-9, contributing a fiery 51 off just 28 balls. His aggressive knock included seven fours and two sixes, laying the foundation for England’s innings. However, a mid-innings collapse was sparked by India’s Varun Chakravarthy, who produced a stunning five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5-24. Despite his efforts, England managed to set a challenging total.
In reply, India’s chase faltered under disciplined bowling from England. Fast bowler Jamie Overton led the charge with three wickets, while Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse claimed two wickets apiece. Adil Rashid was particularly impressive, conceding just 15 runs from his four overs while taking one wicket.
India’s Hardik Pandya, who top-scored with 40 off 35 balls, found himself unable to steer his team towards victory as the required run rate skyrocketed. Early breakthroughs from Archer and Carse set the tone, with Archer dismissing Sanju Samson and Carse removing Abhishek Sharma, caught brilliantly by Archer himself. Mark Wood then took out India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, with a sharp bouncer that was caught by wicketkeeper Phil Salt.
Rashid and Overton then dismantled the middle order, leaving India in deep trouble at 85-5. Despite a valiant effort from Pandya, England’s bowlers restricted India to 145-9, ensuring their victory.
Earlier, Duckett’s explosive start and a quickfire 43 from Liam Livingstone had provided the backbone of England’s total, especially after the team had stumbled to 127-8 in the 16th over. Livingstone’s counterattack included three sixes off Ravi Bishnoi, but he was eventually dismissed by Pandya.
Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul, which included key dismissals of England’s top order, was the highlight for India’s bowlers, but it wasn’t enough to prevent England from posting a challenging score.
India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, acknowledged the team’s struggles, saying, “We always learn from a T20 game. Conceding 170 from 127-8 was too much. Batting also has areas for improvement.”
Mohammed Shami, making his return to international cricket after the 2023 ODI World Cup final, went wicketless in his three overs, conceding 25 runs.
With the fourth T20I set to take place in Pune on Friday, England will be hoping to level the series as both teams continue their pursuit of the T20I crown.
