India endure heartbreak as England secure T20I series with a game to spare
Team India suffered another shocking defeat, following an ordinary batting performance in Bristol as England chased a modest 159-run target in just 13.5 overs and secured the series win with the 5th T20I yet to be played. Despite winning the toss, things simply didn’t go in India’s favour as their batters failed to hit the right chord and England chased down the modest total without breaking a sweat.
India won the toss again and decided to bat first. Much to the woes of the visitors, they lost their top-order early with Abhishek Sharma (16), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (15) and Ishan Kishan (4) heading back to the pavilion. Wobbling at 48/3, India needed a strong stand.
Shreyas Iyer eventually provided the impetus India desperately sought while Shivam Dube anchored at the other end. The two added 53 runs for the fourth wicket but the scoring rate never really looked like that it would trouble England.
Will Jacks broke the crucial partnership, dismissing Dube for 22. From there, the incoming Indian batters couldn’t conjure anything significant to put India on a formidable pedestal. Shreyas Iyer remained a lonely warrior, whose unbeaten 49-ball-80 saw India tot up 158/7 from their allotment of 20 overs.
India did strike early as Arshdeep Singh got the better of Jos Buttler (8). However, that was the last laugh for Team India. Phil Salt (59*) and Harry Brook (79*) brushed off the Indian bowlers with consummate ease and ran away with the chase from just 13.5 overs, while also pocketing the T20 series with a game to spare.
Prasidh Krishna was the most economical bowler of the lot, conceding at a rate of 8.67 while the other bowlers found it hard to reap any rewards. India return to action tomorrow for the final T20I, which is slated to be played in Hampshire.
