England clawed back into the T20 series against India with a commanding 26-run victory in the third match on Tuesday, driven by disciplined bowling and a fiery 51 from Ben Duckett.
The win in Rajkot kept England alive in the five-match series, with India now leading 2-1.
Duckett’s 28-ball innings laid the foundation for England’s total of 171-9, despite a mid-innings collapse triggered by the Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who returned exceptional figures of 5-24.
England’s bowlers, led by Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, and Jofra Archer, dismantled India’s batting line-up, restricting them to 145-9. Overton claimed three wickets, while Archer and Brydon Carse chipped in with two each.
Rashid was particularly economical, finishing with 1-15 from four overs.
“The guys bowled really well and showcased their skills,” said England captain Jos Buttler. “It wasn’t just about pace, but how well they adapted to the wicket.” He lauded Rashid as the team’s “most important player.”
India’s Hardik Pandya laboured to 40 off 35 balls before falling to Overton when the required run rate exceeded 20 per over. Early breakthroughs from Archer and Carse set the tone, with Archer dismissing Sanju Samson and Carse taking out Abhishek Sharma with a spectacular catch by Archer himself.
