England win by 26 runs and keep the series alive. The scoreline now stands 2-1 in favour of India with a couple of T20Is remaining. Earlier in the day, England posted a competitive total having put in to bat first. Varun Chakravarthy bowled a magnificent spell as he grabbed five wickets, however, the fifty by Ben Duckett and a brisk knock by Livingstone helped the visitors post a total of 170-plus. In reply, India lost an early wicket in the form of Sanju Samson who struggled to get going once again. Abhishek Sharma and Surkyakumar Yadav were dismissed in the powerplay, while Tilak Varma - the man in form couldn't add anything substantial either. Adil Rashid kept the lid on the scoring rate in the middle overs by bowling a wily spell, and as a result of that the required run rate shot over the roof. Washington Sundar used up too many deliveries before departing, while Hardik Pandya struggled to keep the scoreboard ticking when the pacers were bowling. Boundaries were difficult to come by for India and as a result of some disciplined bowling, England managed to defend the total comfortably in the end.
India vs England: England win by 26 runs and keep the series alive. The scoreline now stands 2-1 in favour of India with a couple of T20Is remaining. Earlier in the day, England posted a competitive total having put in to bat first. Varun Chakravarthy bowled a magnificent spell as he grabbed five wickets, however, the fifty by Ben Duckett and a brisk knock by Livingstone helped the visitors post a total of 170-plus. In reply, India lost an early wicket in the form of Sanju Samson who struggled to get going once again. Abhishek Sharma and Surkyakumar Yadav were dismissed in the powerplay, while Tilak Varma – the man in form couldn’t add anything substantial either. Adil Rashid kept the lid on the scoring rate in the middle overs by bowling a wily spell, and as a result of that the required run rate shot over the roof. Washington Sundar used up too many deliveries before departing, while Hardik Pandya struggled to keep the scoreboard ticking when the pacers were bowling. Boundaries were difficult to come by for India and as a result of some disciplined bowling, England managed to defend the total comfortably in the end.
Bring 🔛 Rajkot 🙌
All set for #INDvENG T20I number 3⃣#TeamIndia | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/6LOFfXwsR4---Advertisement---— BCCI (@BCCI) January 28, 2025
Brydon Carse to Dhruv Jurel, out Caught by Philip Salt!! A full toss by Brydon Carse, Dhruv Jurel tries to be cheeky. Scoops this towards Salt who takes a safe catch behind the wickets. England in total control now. Just a matter of time
Jamie Overton to Hardik Pandya, out Caught by Buttler!! The set batsman is gone. Jamie Overton goes full at the stumps and Hardik Pandya looks to take him on. Loses his shape while going for the aerial lofted shot and he has been caught at long-off by the England captain. 41 runs required in 11 balls now
Jofra Archer to Hardik Pandya, SIX, shot! Jofra Archer goes full on off and Hardik Pandya lofts it over long-off. Brook stationed in the deep leaps, but the ball clears him. 78m maximum!
Jofra Archer to Axar, out Caught by Adil Rashid!! Another one bites the dust. A juicy full toss outside off, Axar makes room and slashes at it.
Mark Wood to Axar, FOUR, 50 required off the final 3 overs. Pitched up by the bowler on off, Axar makes room and drills it to wide long-off. Buttler charges to his right, puts in a dive to stop the ball, but fails to stop it eventually
Mark Wood to Hardik Pandya, SIX, just clears the boundary. On a length around middle and leg, Hardik Pandya stays put and flicks it over deep mid-wicket where he clears the man stationed near the fence. 74m maxium
Jamie Overton to Axar, 1 run, makes room and punches this back of a length delivery through the off-side
Jamie Overton to Hardik Pandya, FOUR, much needed for India. But is too late now? This was pitched up by the bowler and Hardik Pandya thumps it right over Jamie Overton's head. Away to the fence as the fielder in the deep can't stop it
Adil Rashid to Axar, 1 run, a lot slower through the air on off, driven along the carpet to long-off
Jamie Overton to Washington Sundar, out Caught by Buttler!! India have lost half their side. This was pitched up by the bowler, was a touch slower and Washington Sundar chipped it straight to mid-off. Buttler stationed there completes a safe catch and Washington Sundar's rusty knock comes to an end.
Jamie Overton to Hardik Pandya, 1 run, short of a length around middle and leg, worked through square leg by Hardik Pandya
Adil Rashid to Washington Sundar, leg byes, FOUR, oh that's gone through everyone! Rashid couldn't believe it and started appealing! Floated up full just outside off, got it to drop again it turned back in sharply beat the inside edge as he looked to work it into the leg-side and just went over leg-stump
Brydon Carse to Hardik Pandya, no run, length delivery on middle-leg, nips away just a shade, Hardik Pandya looks to tuck it into the leg-side and it goes to mid-off off the leading edge
Adil Rashid to Tilak Varma, out Bowled!! He's knocked him over with a ripper! India's hero from the previous game departs! Tossed up on a length just outside off, Tilak Varma pressed back looking to work it into the leg-side but that gripped and turned back into him quite sharply, it beat the inside edge and crashed into the stumps. Rashid pumps his fist and has a steely look.
Livingstone to Tilak Varma, SIX, thunderbolt that zaps down the ground! Full on middle, right in the slot, Tilak Varma gives it a little charge before smacking it straight back down the ground
Mark Wood to Suryakumar Yadav, out Caught by Philip Salt!! The SKY special goes wrong this time and he departs! Short of a length on middle-leg, Suryakumar Yadav stepped inside the line and looked to scoop-flick it using the pace, it took the top-edge and flew straight up though, Salt settled under it, had to wait an eternity for that to come back down but when it did, he was safely under it. India in a spot of bother now, they've lost three inside the powerplay.
Jofra Archer to Suryakumar Yadav, FOUR, can't bowl there with everyone on the off-side up, slower short ball outside off, Suryakumar Yadav waits for it and slaps it away over backward point with both feet off the ground
Brydon Carse to Abhishek Sharma, out Caught by Jofra Archer!! That's a tremendous catch! It goes a mile up in the air and Archer is there to take it as it comes hurtling down. Length delivery on middle-leg, was a cutter, Abhishek Sharma stepped out and made room looking to punch it on the up again, didn't time it right and it went up really high,
Brydon Carse to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR, streaky but they all count! Full and slanting across just outside off, Abhishek Sharma flashed hard at it looking to go over the covers, he got a thick outside edge that flew over short third man
Jofra Archer to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR, that's an exceptional shot! Length delivery on off-stump, Abhishek Sharma stood up and just punched it aerially over extra cover, sublime timing and it was hit on the up, that is so difficult to execute
Jofra Archer to Samson, out Caught by Adil Rashid!! Samson perishes! The plan works, short of length and into the body again, Samson looked to heave it away over mid-wicket and it rushed him, no room too and he just spliced it towards mid-on. Simple catch for Rashid who went a few steps back.
Mark Wood to Samson, no run, short of length on middle, Samson looks to punch it through the covers but it goes towards mid-on off the inner half
Hardik Pandya to Mark Wood, 2 runs, knocked to long-on as it's a full toss by Hardik Pandya. Wood turns back for the second and gets hit on his body. Jurel's throw hit him
Hardik Pandya to Mark Wood, 1 run, full toss outside off, Mark Wood throws his hands at it, slices it to square third man for one
Shami to Mark Wood, 1 run, Wood and Rashid adding some handy runs for the last wicket. Short of a length outside off, punched through the off-side for a single
Shami to Mark Wood, no ball, byes, 1 run, that's a high full toss, above the batter's waist and the keeper fumbles to gather it. Free-hit coming up!
Shami to Adil Rashid, FOUR, deft touch! Short of a length around off, slower one by Shami and Adil Rashid plays it late. Opens the bat face and steers it through the gap between the keeper and short third man
Hardik Pandya to Livingstone, out Caught by Dhruv Jurel!! Hardik Pandya removes the set batsman. This was pitched up by the pacer and Livingstone lofts it towards long-on.
Ravi Bishnoi to Livingstone, SIX, back-to-back sixes for Livingstone. This was a tossed up delivery by Ravi Bishnoi, Livingstone goes down on his knee and slogs it over deep mid-wicket for half-a-dozen more
Varun Chakravarthy to Jofra Archer, out Bowled!! That's a five-wicket haul for Varun Chakravarthy! A googly around off, breaches the batsman's defence and the off pole is out of here. Jofra Archer can't believe it, but he has to go. Departs without troubling the scorers and the bowler is ecstatic.
Varun Chakravarthy to Brydon Carse, out Caught by Tilak Varma!! Varun Chakravarthy weaving his magic in Rajkot. Fourth wicket for him. Nicely tossed up delivery on middle and leg, Brydon Carse goes aerial, flicks it towards deep square leg and Tilak stationed there takes a safe catch. England losing their way once again.
Ravi Bishnoi to Livingstone, SIX, Livingstone breaks the shackles. This was tad full and Livingstone went down on his knee to play the slogsweep. Clears deep mid-wicket
Varun Chakravarthy to Jamie Overton, out Bowled!! Jamie Overton is gone for a golden duck. Varun Chakravarthy on a hat-trick. This was a googly around leg and the batsman went for a paddle sweep. Misses it altogether and he has been bowled from behind his legs.
Varun Chakravarthy to Jamie Smith, out Caught by Dhruv Jurel! That was short and Jamie Smith pulls it straight to deep mid-wicket. Jurel stationed near the boundary moves to his right and takes a good low catch.
Ravi Bishnoi to Brook, out Bowled!! Brook is gone. Tossed up delivery around off, Brook goes for a sweep and drags it back on to the stumps.
Ravi Bishnoi to Livingstone, FOUR, Livingstone is looking in good touch today.. Playing with positive intent. Walks down the track and flicks this floated delivery over mid-wicket for a boundary
Abhishek Sharma to Livingstone, 1 run, down the track to drive it along the carpet to long-off for a single
Axar to Duckett, out Caught by Abhishek Sharma!! One brings two! India get two massive breakthroughs heading into the drinks break!Buttler looks a little forlorn in the dressing room.
Axar to Duckett, 1 run, that's 50 for Duckett and it's come off just 26 balls! Length delivery on leg-stump, worked away to deep mid-wicket
Varun Chakravarthy to Buttler, out Caught by Samson!! Massive wicket for India! The in-form Buttler goes! Good length delivery just outside off, was just a gentle seam-up delivery, Buttler switched up his legs and went for a big reverse-sweep, it passed very close to his gloves before being grabbed by Samson and he went up straightaway. Bowler wasn't very convinced again but SKY decided to trust his keeper. UltraEdge takes its time to show up and when it finally does, it returns with a little spike when the ball is next to the bottom-edge! Buttler stood around looking just a little guilty, he probably knew he'd got a little touch on it
Axar to Buttler, byes, FOUR, that's gone through everyone! Tossed up full and just outside off, Buttler got into a bit of a tangle trying to reverse-sweep, it got too close to him and he couldn't lay bat on it, Samson doesn't get anything behind it either and it goes through
Ravi Bishnoi to Buttler, FOUR, now Buttler brings the reverse-sweep out as well! Full and just outside off, Buttler switches up his feet and executes this to perfection, it screams past backward point
Washington Sundar to Duckett, no run, review lost! Appeal for leg before is turned down, flatter delivery angled into off-stump, Duckett went for the reverse-sweep again and missed, it just slid under his bat and gloves before hitting the outer part of the pad. Really poor review, impact was well outside off and it looks like the bowler knew it.
Hardik Pandya to Duckett, FOUR, cracking shot!Banged in short on middle, this didn't quite rise, sat up nicely for Duckett who hung back before hammering it away through mid-wicket with a pull
Hardik Pandya to Buttler, 1 run, tight run but he makes it easily, full on off-stump, knocked straight to mid-off but struck gently, Buttler set off straightaway, had to swerve around the bowler but got there easily as the throw came in
Shami to Duckett, SIX, extraordinary! Duckett had to create something with Shami bowling such impeccable lines and lengths, good length delivery on middle, Duckett shuffled right across his stumps and used the pace to scoop it over the keeper's head and all the way for six
Shami to Buttler, 2 runs, full on off-stump, hint of shape back in, Buttler just checks his shot as he lofts it, just manages to chip it over mid-off and even this quick outfield can't take it to the ropes, that was right out of the toe end
Hardik Pandya to Duckett, FOUR, another pace off delivery but this one is full and on the pads, Duckett waits for it and clips it away nicely towards deep backward square leg
Hardik Pandya to Philip Salt, out Caught by Abhishek Sharma!! Gone! Straight to the man! Third failure for Salt. Pandya dangled the carrot and Salt bit it right off. Pitched up full and wide outside off, Salt's weight was going the other way as he went hard at this, slapped it straight to Abhishek Sharma at cover who took a sharp catch just above his head. That went to him quickly but he made it look easy. Salt walks off shaking his head. It just hasn't worked for him in this series so far.