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England Keep T20I Series Alive with Clinical Bowling Display in Rajkot
England’s Victory Narrows Series Deficit to 2-1
England produced a commanding performance with both bat and ball to defeat India by 26 runs in the third T20I in Rajkot. The disciplined bowling attack, coupled with a crucial half-century from Ben Duckett, helped the visitors cut India’s series lead to 2-1 in the five-match contest.
England’s Batting Effort: Duckett and Livingstone Shine
Duckett’s Explosive Start Sets the Tone
England began their innings with intent, as Ben Duckett took charge of the scoring early on. He played an aggressive knock, striking boundaries with precision, particularly in the fourth and fifth overs bowled by Hardik Pandya and Washington Sundar. Within a span of seven deliveries, Duckett smashed five fours and a six, ensuring England gained early momentum.
Buttler’s Support and Chakravarthy’s Game-Changing Spell
Jos Buttler, England’s skipper, provided solid support but struggled to accelerate. He briefly countered India’s attack, reverse-sweeping Ravi Bishnoi for a boundary before launching a six over long-on. However, his dismissal off Varun Chakravarthy’s deceptive delivery triggered a collapse.
Chakravarthy’s mastery with spin proved decisive as he dismantled England’s middle and lower order. Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, and Jofra Archer all fell to his variations, leaving England reeling at 127/8 within seven overs of Buttler’s departure. Chakravarthy finished with an exceptional 5-wicket haul, conceding just 24 runs.
Livingstone’s Late Flourish Adds Respectability
Liam Livingstone salvaged England’s innings with a quickfire 43 off 24 balls, striking three consecutive sixes off Bishnoi in the 17th over. His counter-attack lifted England to a competitive total of 171/9 in 20 overs.
India’s Chase: Rashid and England’s Pacers Seal the Win
India’s Top Order Falters
India started their chase aggressively, with Abhishek Sharma playing a brisk knock. However, England struck early, dismissing key batters at crucial junctures. Suryakumar Yadav’s attempted scoop in the final over of the powerplay resulted in a top-edge to Phil Salt, leaving India at 48/3.
Rashid’s Masterclass in Spin Bowling
Adil Rashid exploited the spin-friendly conditions brilliantly, varying his pace to outfox Indian batters. He cleaned up Tilak Varma with a sharply turning delivery in the ninth over, further stalling India’s progress. Washington Sundar struggled to rotate the strike, managing just six runs off 14 balls, giving England full control. Rashid’s spell ended with figures of 1/15 in four overs, a vital contribution to England’s defense.\
Pandya’s Resistance and England’s Death-Bowling Excellence
Hardik Pandya attempted to anchor the chase but found it difficult to time the ball on the sluggish surface. England’s fast bowlers cleverly mixed up their pace, forcing Pandya and Axar Patel into mistimed shots. Axar’s 15-ball 16 ended when he top-edged a delivery from Jofra Archer to short third man.
With the required run rate climbing, India’s lower order crumbled under pressure. Mohammad Shami and Dhruv Jurel departed in quick succession, confirming England’s victory. Though Ravi Bishnoi hit a boundary off the last ball, it was too little, too late as India finished at 145/9 in 20 overs.
Match Summary
England 171/9 in 20 overs (Ben Duckett 51, Liam Livingstone 43; Varun Chakravarthy 5-24, Hardik Pandya 2-33)
India 145/9 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 40, Abhishek Sharma 24; Jamie Overton 3-24, Brydon Carse 2-28)
Result: England won by 26 runs.
For more insights into England’s recent performances, visit our England Cricket News section.
For official updates on the India-England T20I series, visit the ICC’s official website.
