India thump England by 36 runs, win T20I series 3-2

Team India on Saturday recorded their ninth successive T20I series win with a thumping 36-run victory over England in the final T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium. 

After failing to get good starts in the first four T20I fixtures, the move to open the batting with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma reaped rewards. The experienced duo laid out a perfect foundation for the incoming batters to follow, adding 96 runs before Ben Stokes accounted for Rohit Sharma in the 9th over.

However, the latter’s dismissal did not have any effect on the scoring rate. Suryakumar Yadav ensured that the runs came thick and fine. The Mumbaikar’s big-hitting proficiencies kept the run-rate over the 11-an-over mark. His 17-ball stay at the crease came to a halt courtesy of a stunning effort from Chris Jordan near the boundary ropes. 

As the innings took shape, Kohli decided to step on the pedal. He found an ideal batting ally in Hardik Pandya. They used the long handle to good effect and ensured that India finishes strong in what was a belter of a track. The duo stitched an unbeaten partnership of 81 runs off just 40 balls for the third wicket, steering the team to a mountainous total. 

The Indian skipper was the standout batsman, notching up his 28th T20I half-century. His unbeaten 52-ball 80 knock was aided with 7 boundaries and 2 sixes. 

In reply, Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided an early jolt to the England line-up. The pacer dismissed Jason Roy for a duck in the very first over. Despite losing an early wicket, Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan took the charge and began to counter-attack - a ploy to detriment the Indian bowlers. By the end of the powerplay stage, the visitors had raced away to 62. 

Even after the fielding restrictions were relaxed, the Indian bowlers had an arduous time containing the English duo. They stitched a 100-run partnership in just 56 balls. Malan and Buttler soon brought up their fifties off 33 and 30 balls respectively. 

Just when it looked that they had bailed England out of the trouble, India’s trump card Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided the crucial breakthrough. Jos Buttler chased a ball that was well away from his reach and lobbed straight to Hardik Pandya at the long-off position. 

One over later, Shardul Thakur gagged Jonny Bairstow and Malan in just a space of three deliveries to reduce England to 142 for 4. England’s skipper Eoin Morgan too couldn't add any run to the score and fell prey to a slower-ball bouncer. After losing three wickets in a short period, the visitors could not recover.

England ended their innings on 188 for 8. As far as the Indian bowlers were concerned, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the standout one. He picked up two vital wickets, giving away only 15 runs from his full quota of four overs.