New Delhi: Opener Phil Salt and skipper Harry Brook slammed unbeaten half-centuries to help England hammer India by 9 wickets in the 4th T20I and bag their third win in a row to clinch the five-match series 3-0. chased down the target of 159 runs in just 13.5 overs to make a mockery of the visitors, handing them their fifth loss in their last five completed matches.
After the series opener between the two sides got washed out due to rain, England have dominated the series with three wins in the next three games to expose India’s frailties in the shortest format. It was yet another dismal batting display from the Men in Blue in the 4th T20I on Friday as they could only manage 158/7 in 20 overs on a decent batting track.
Opting to bat first, India were expected to put up a response after being skittled out for a paltry 76 in their last game. However, that was not the case as the openers once again failed to provide a strong start. Young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dismissed cheaply on 15 off 10 as his poor run continued, while Abhishek Sharma could only manage 16 off 14 balls.
Ishan Kishan was also sent packing cheaply on 4 off 6 balls, leaving India reeling at 48/3 at one stage. played a captain’s knock under pressure to help the visitors avoid another collapse and put a moderate total on the board. The Indian captain scored an unbeaten 80 off 49 balls, laced with five sixes and 4 fours to take his team to 158/7 in 20 overs.
He found little support from the other end as the likes of Shivam Dube (22 off 23) and Tilak Varma (11 off 8) struggled to tackle the England bowlers. The total eventually didn’t prove enough as England made light work of it, thanks to impressive knocks from Salt and Brook.
Salt, Brook power England to dominant win
Salt and Brook combined to power England to a dominant nine-wicket victory with a chasing masterclass at the County Ground in Bristol. Salt scored an unbeaten 59 off 42 balls, while Brook slammed a quickfire 79 not out off 35 deliveries to help England complete the 159-run chase with as many as 37 balls to spare.
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh managed the only wicket for India during England’s run chase as he dismissed Jos Buttler on 8. None of the other Indian bowlers managed to pick up a wicket as the hosts cruised to a phenomenal victory.
The defeat meant India have now lost their last two T20I series in a row and are winless in the ongoing tour of the UK. India suffered a crushing 2-0 series defeat in the T20I series against Ireland and have now gone 3-0 down against England, with one game remaining.
India have lost two T20I series in a row for the first time since 2018-19, when they lost 1-2 against New Zealand before suffering a 2-0 whitewash at home against Australia under Virat Kohli.