India defeated England by 15 runs in the fourth T20I at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Friday. As a result, India now holds an unassailable lead in the five-match series.
Bowlers Step Up for India
India’s bowlers took charge during England’s run chase. Harshit Rana, who replaced the injured Shivam Dube, provided a major boost to India’s attack. His presence proved vital in the latter stages of the match.
England started strong with a 62-run partnership between Philip Salt (23 off 21 balls) and Ben Duckett (39 off 19 balls). However, Ravi Bishnoi struck first, dismissing Duckett in the 6th over. Afterward, India gained momentum and began to take wickets at regular intervals. Jos Buttler, England’s captain, was dismissed cheaply for just 2 runs by Bishnoi in the 8th over.
Brook’s Fight Falls Short
Harry Brook (51 off 26 balls) was the standout performer for England. His fiery knock kept the visitors’ hopes alive. Nevertheless, Varun Chakravarthy broke the partnership by removing Brook in the 15th over.
Although Jamie Overton (19 off 15 balls) and Adil Rashid (10* off 6 balls) tried to keep the chase alive in the final overs, their efforts fell short. India’s bowlers kept their composure to seal the victory.
Key Performances in the Bowling Department
Ravi Bishnoi and Harshit Rana were the heroes with the ball, taking three wickets each. Varun Chakravarthy also contributed with two wickets. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel chipped in with one wicket each, further strengthening India’s position.
India Struggles Early
Earlier, India’s batting faced a difficult start. After winning the toss, England chose to bowl first. The decision paid off as they quickly reduced India to 12/3. Saqib Mahmood was outstanding, taking three wickets in the second over, including a maiden, a rare feat in men’s T20 internationals.
Pandya and Dube’s Stellar Partnership
India then rebuilt thanks to a 45-run partnership between Abhishek Sharma (29 off 19 balls) and Rinku Singh (30 off 26 balls). However, both were dismissed. At this point, Hardik Pandya (53 off 30 balls) stepped up, delivering a crucial half-century. Along with Shivam Dube (53 off 34 balls), who also scored a vital fifty, they propelled India to a total of 181/9.
In the end, India posted a total of 181/9, while England managed 166/8 in their chase. Bishnoi’s impressive three-wicket haul proved to be the turning point in the match.
Brief Score
India 181/9 (Shivam Dube 53, Hardik Pandya 53, Rinku Singh 30; Saqib Mahmood 3/35)
England 166 (Harry Brook 51, Ben Duckett 39, Philip Salt 23; Ravi Bishnoi 3/28).
