In a gripping encounter in Rajkot, England managed to keep the T20I series alive against India by clinching a 26-run victory in the third match. The match, played on Tuesday (Jan 28, 2025), saw England's bowlers outshine India's batting line-up, despite a commendable performance from India's Varun Chakravarthy, who claimed a five-wicket haul.
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| Image Credits: ESPN Cricinfo |
England were put into bat first and posted a competitive total of 171 for 9 in their quota of 20 overs, with Ben Duckett's brisk 51 setting the tone. However, it was the lower order's resilience, particularly Liam Livingstone's quickfire innings (43 off 24 with 1 four and 5 sixes), that pushed England past what looked like a modest score to defend.
India's chase started and continued on a tough note with difficulties from the right from the beginning. The English bowlers were clinical, with Jamie Overton leading the charge, taking 3 wickets for just 24 runs. Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse with 2 wickets each also made significant contributions with their pace and precision, ensuring India's batsmen couldn't find their rhythm.
Hardik Pandya was the lone warrior for India, scoring 40 runs off 35 balls, but his efforts were in vain as wickets fell around him, resulting in India being restricted to 145 for 9. Openers and Tilak Varma failed to make an impact, hence the defeat in this game for India!
This win has narrowed India's lead to 2-1 in the five-match series, setting the stage for a thrilling contest in the remaining 2 games in this 5-match series. England's all-round performance, both with bat and ball, has reinvigorated their campaign, promising fans more intense cricket action as the series progresses.
Brief Scores: England - 171/9 in 20 overs (Ben Duckett - 51, Varun Chakravarthy - 5/24) defeated India - 145/9 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya - 40, Jamie Overton - 3/24) by a margin of 26 runs
