India set up thrilling T20I series decider

Riding on Suryakumar Yadav’s half-century and Hardik Pandya’s miserly spell, India set up a series decider after an 8-run victory over England in the fourth T20I.

Earlier in the evening, Eoin Morgan called it right at the toss and elected to field first. While the visitors took the field with the same team, the hosts made two changes. Ishan Kishan and Yuzvendra Chahal made way for Suryakumar Yadav and Rahul Chahar. 

Rohit Sharma made his intentions clear with a lofted shot over long-off on the very first delivery of the innings. Jofra Archer drew the first blood for England, dismissing Rohit Sharma. His dismissal marked Suryakumar Yadav’s arrival to the crease. The latter announced his arrival in some style when he effortlessly hooked it over the fine leg. KL Rahul, who looked fidgety throughout the innings, didn't quite make amends with the willow. His horrid run of form continued as he was dismissed for only 14 runs. Virat Kohli soon followed Rahul. Adil Rashid’s loopy googly allured India skipper to play across-the-line hoick and Jos Buttler inflicted an easy stumping. 

Despite wickets falling at the other end, Suryakumar didn't back down and continued to go after the bowlers. While the 30-year-old was all muscle throughout the innings, Rishab Pant took some time to get his eye in. The Mumbaikar was severely harsh on the England bowlers, working his way to a 29-ball half-century. Soon thereafter, a sharp catch by Dawid Malan to send the in-form batsman raised a few eyebrows. Malan claimed that he had taken the catch cleanly. The replays completely indicated that the ball had touched the ground. However, the third umpire stuck to the on-field umpire’s decision, claiming that there was no conclusive evidence.

Shreyas Iyer joined Pant at the crease. With a foundation set, the pair was tasked with the responsibility of pushing the scoring rate. Iyer was quick off the blocks, pummeling his first ball to the boundary rope. Pant’s 23-ball stay at the crease was cut short by Jofra Archer in the 17th over. Iyer’s 18-ball 37 helped India go past the 180-mark. 

England's response was marred by an early wicket. Bhuvneshwar Kumar accounted for Jos Buttler in the third over. Jason Roy unleashed his big-hitting proficiencies, yielding 16 runs off Washington Sundar’s over. Dawid Malan’s struggles against a leg-spinner continued. The southpaw lost his stumps while trying the fancy reverse sweep. Hardik Pandya dealt a telling blow in the 9th over, gagging the belligerent Jason Roy. 

Team India had dented England’s fiery start with twin blows. Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes had a mountainous task ahead of them. They steadied the ship and made full use of the loose-offerings by the spinners. The duo added 65 run. Thanks to the flurry of boundaries, the asking rate came down to 10-an-over. However, just when the balance seemed to tilt their way, Bairstow holed out to the short backward fielder. The equation read 44 off 24 balls for England. 

They would have fancied to chase it down with Stokes and Eoin Morgan at the crease. Shardul Thakur, introduced back into the attack in 17th over, dented England’s chase with twin strikes. Having seen the back of two dangerous batsmen within the space of two deliveries, India tightened the noose on England. Jofra Archer gave India some scare by plundering some timely boundaries but it was too much to ask in the end.