Finance
England remained in the series after defeating India by 26 runs in the third T20I on January 28 (Tuesday). After losing the first two games, the English did not appear to be in a position to win the match after the first innings, when they were reduced to 171/9 from 83/1.
At the end of the first innings, England was considered to be at least 10-15 runs behind par at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.
However, the English bowlers demonstrated that they play the scenarios rather than the conditions, striking at the most appropriate times. No Indian hitter was able to shift the momentum in their favour.
Adil Rashid withdrew India’s hero, Tilak Varma, from the last game, and the match turned on its head as the necessary rate climbed and runs were difficult to come by.
While Rashid finished with 1/15 in four overs, Overton went for only 24 runs, or one run per ball, to take three wickets. This means India could only score 39 runs in 48 balls when it counted most.
Hardik Pandya led the Indian squad with 40 runs, while opener Abhishek Sharma scored 24. No other batter scored more than 20 runs.
Aside from Overton and Rashid, Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse each took two wickets, while Mark Wood claimed one.
Earlier, after losing the toss and being asked to bat first, England lost Phil Salt early. However, skipper Jos Buttler (24) and Ben Duckett (51) contributed an important 76 runs for the second wicket. Later, aided to Liam Livingstone’s 24-ball 43 and tens from number ten Mark Wood and number eleven Adil Rashid, England scored 171/9.
Varun Chakravarthy was India’s standout bowler, picking up his second five-wicket haul. However, just like the previous time India lost to South Africa, Chakravarthy’s five-for came in a losing cause, making him the first bowler to record two five-wicket hauls in a losing cause.
