RAJKOT, India — In a thrilling contest, England managed to secure victory against India by 26 runs in the third T20 match, keeping their hopes alive in the series. This match took place on Tuesday, where Varun Chakravarthy made a significant impact by taking 5 wickets for just 24 runs, although it ultimately wasn’t enough to clinch a win for the home side.
England, batting first, posted a total of 171-9 in their 20 overs. Ben Duckett, who had struggled in the earlier games, bounced back impressively by scoring 51 off 28 deliveries. Chakravarthy’s remarkable performance marked his second five-wicket haul in T20 cricket, demonstrating his skill on the field.
In response, India could only manage 145-9 in their allotted overs, with Jamie Overton being a standout bowler, taking 3 wickets for 24 runs in just four overs. This match has shifted the series lead to India, who now stands at 2-1 following their earlier victories.
India opted to bowl first again after winning the toss for the third consecutive time. They introduced Mohammed Shami, who made a much-anticipated return to international cricket, replacing Arshdeep Singh in the line-up. Meanwhile, England retained the same team that played in the last match.
The English innings began with Duckett facing early challenges as Phil Salt managed just 5 runs before falling cheaply. Duckett remained composed, striking seven boundaries and two sixes while forming a solid partnership of 76 runs with skipper Jos Buttler, who contributed 24 runs.
Chakravarthy disrupted the England innings by dismissing Buttler in the ninth over, and England suffered another setback as Axar Patel removed Duckett not long after. With their score dwindling to 108-4, Harry Brook was dismissed for 8 runs, falling to a bowled out by Ravi Bishnoi while attempting a sweep shot.
However, Liam Livingstone stepped up and played a crucial role, scoring 43 runs off 24 balls, keeping the innings afloat even as Chakravarthy continued to wreak havoc. Chakravarthy dismissed both Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton in consecutive deliveries during the 14th over, but he narrowly missed a hat trick.
Livingstone’s heroics, which included five sixes, propelled England to their highest total of the series after recovering from a precarious position at 127-8.
When it was time for India to chase 172 for victory, their top order faced difficulties against the English bowling attack. Jofra Archer once again proved troublesome for Sanju Samson, who fell for just 3 runs. Abhishek Sharma provided some resistance with 24 runs off 14 deliveries but was caught off Brydon Carse’s bowling.
With losses accruing quickly, the situation worsened for India as captain Suryakumar Yadav went for just 14 runs, putting the hosts in a precarious position at 48-3. The pivotal moment occurred when Adil Rashid dismissed the in-form Tilak Varma for 18 runs in the eighth over, further straining India’s chances.
Hardik Pandya tried to stabilize the innings, scoring 40 runs off 35 balls, but the wickets continued to tumble around him. Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Dhruv Jurel fell short of significant contributions to the score.
Pandya’s efforts included two sixes but came to an end as he was caught off Overton’s bowling in the penultimate over, extinguishing India’s hopes for a comeback in the match and placing England back in contention in the series.
