Photo credit: www.skysports.com

England’s Bowlers Lead the Charge in Third T20 Against India

In a pivotal third T20 encounter held in Rajkot, England’s bowlers secured a crucial 26-run victory over India, revitalizing their chances in the five-match series, which now stands at 2-1 in favor of the hosts.

The match was marred by another dismal batting performance from England, particularly against spin. Despite a promising start, the tourists collapsed from a promising 83-1 to a precarious 127-8, largely due to an impressive spell from Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who took 5 wickets for 24 runs, bringing his total to 10 wickets in the series thus far. However, a late surge from Liam Livingstone, who scored 43 runs off just 24 balls, helped England reach a defendable total of 172 runs.

When it came time for India to chase, England’s bowlers exhibited remarkable discipline and skill, restricting the home team to just 146-9. Adil Rashid shone brightest among the bowlers with outstanding figures of 1-15 from 4 overs, which included the critical wicket of Tilak Varma.

Concerns Arise from England’s Batting Collapse

The match commenced with India winning the toss and choosing to field. Phil Salt’s struggles continued as he was dismissed for just five runs in the second over, falling to Hardik Pandya’s bowling.

Nevertheless, Ben Duckett and Jos Buttler steadied the innings, forging a solid partnership of 76 runs for the second wicket. Duckett showcased his talent with a brisk 50 runs off 26 balls—his second half-century in T20 internationals—while Buttler managed a modest 24 runs but was dismissed just before the innings took a turn for the worse.

Immediately following Buttler’s exit, England’s batting order crumbled. Duckett’s dismissal came in the next over, and Harry Brook, struggling in the series, was bowled out cheaply for 8 runs. The collapse intensified as Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton fell in quick succession, leading Chakravarthy to claim his hat-trick and finish with a five-wicket haul as England slumped to 127-8.

Despite the late innings heroics from Livingstone, which included hitting three sixes in one over, England’s lower order could only muster a final total of 171 runs.

Bowling Performance Secures Victory

In reply, India’s innings got off to a rocky start as England’s fast bowlers made an impact during the powerplay. Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Mark Wood each took crucial wickets, reducing the hosts to 48-3. However, India appeared to find hope with Tilak Varma at the crease, who had been in exceptional form throughout the series.

Rashid’s bowling was pivotal as he dismissed Varma, putting England firmly in control. As India’s batsmen failed to build partnerships, their scoring rate plummeted, with only Hardik Pandya managing any resistance, scoring 40 runs off 35 balls before falling to Overton.

In the end, England’s bowlers, particularly Overton who finished with figures of 3-23, effectively dismantled the Indian batting lineup, leading to a significant victory.

Reactions from the Captains and Analysts

Jos Buttler, England Captain: “The guys bowled really well, and it was great to see them showcase their skills. Adil Rashid is an essential part of our team, exhibiting many variations and styles of bowling. With the bat, Ben Duckett is hard to stop, and he played beautifully on a challenging pitch.”

Suryakumar Yadav, India Captain: “Credit to Adil Rashid for his performance. He restricted our scoring options, showcasing why he is regarded as a world-class bowler. While we managed to reduce them to 127-8, conceding 171 runs in the end was disappointing for us.”

Former Indian player and coach Ravi Shastri added, “England deserves applause for their bowling strategy. They attacked the stumps and deployed yorkers effectively. Rashid continues to improve, like fine wine, but England’s batting potential remains untapped.”

Upcoming Matches in the Series

All times UK and Ireland

First T20: Wednesday January 22 – Eden Gardens, Kolkata – India won by seven wickets

Second T20: Saturday January 25 – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai – India won by two wickets

Third T20: Tuesday January 28 – Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot – England won by 26 runs

Fourth T20: Friday January 31 – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

Fifth T20: Sunday February 2 – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

First ODI: Thursday February 6 – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

Second ODI: Sunday February 9 – Barabati Stadium, Cuttack

Third ODI: Wednesday February 12 – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Source
www.skysports.com