The 4th T20I between India and England was played in Pune, where India secured a thrilling 15-run victory to win the series 3-1. The match saw several exciting moments, including stellar batting performances by Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, a dream debut for Harshit Rana, and England’s strong start, despite the eventual defeat.
Match Summary:
- Venue: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
- Toss: England won the toss and chose to bowl first
- India’s Innings: 181/9 (20 overs)
- England’s Innings: 166/10 (19.4 overs)
- Result: India won by 15 runs, and took the series 3-1
- Player of the Match: Shivam Dube (India)
India’s Rocky Start: India, batting first, faced an early setback as England’s pacer Saqib Mahmood struck early, taking 3 wickets in his first over. India was at 12/3 early in the innings. Following this collapse, Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh attempted to rebuild the innings with some quick runs. However, India continued to struggle at 79/5.
Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya’s Resilient Batting: Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya steadied the Indian innings with remarkable half-centuries, forming a crucial partnership for the sixth wicket. Their effort pushed India to a respectable total.
- Hardik Pandya: 53 runs (30 balls, 4 fours, 4 sixes)
- Shivam Dube: 53 runs (34 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes)
In the final overs, Craig Overton delivered a bouncer that injured Shivam Dube, causing him to be replaced by Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute.
England’s Explosive Start but Loss of Wickets: Chasing the target, England got off to a strong start with Phil Salt and Ben Duckett, who raced to 62/1 in the first 6 overs. However, the Indian bowlers made a strong comeback.
Harshit Rana’s Dream Debut:
- Harshit Rana, as a concussion substitute, made an instant impact, dismissing Liam Livingstone off the second ball of his first over. He finished with 3 wickets for 33 runs in 4 overs.
Harry Brook’s Brilliant Knock:
- Harry Brook played a blistering knock, scoring a half-century off 25 balls and tried to carry England towards victory. But once he fell, England’s hopes faded.
India’s Bowlers’ Performance:
- In the final overs, Indian bowlers kept their composure, with Varun Chakravarthy and Arshdeep Singh picking up crucial wickets to keep England away from the target.
Captains’ Reactions:
- Suryakumar Yadav (India’s captain): “The team showed great character. Even when we were 10/3, our confidence remained high. Hardik and Dube played vital roles, and Harshit made a great debut. We are now ready for the final match in Mumbai.”
- Jos Buttler (England’s captain): “We started well, but made some mistakes in the middle overs. Duckett and Salt batted well, but we couldn’t convert it into a win.”
Series Status and Next Steps: With this win, India has gained an unassailable 3-1 lead in the 5-match series. The final T20I in Mumbai now becomes a formality. This victory highlighted the crucial contributions of Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana, giving India a positive outlook for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.
What are your thoughts on India’s performance? Let us know in the comments!
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