Credited from: REUTERS
In a closely contested third T20 International held at Rajkot, England triumphed over India by 26 runs, keeping their hopes alive in the five-match series. England's bowling attack delivered a disciplined performance, restricting the hosts to 145 runs while defending a modest total of 171-9. This victory was crucial for England as they look to recover from defeats in the first two matches of the series, held in Kolkata and Chennai.
Ben Duckett emerged as a standout performer for England, scoring 51 runs off 28 balls, supported by Liam Livingstone's explosive 43 off 24. Duckett and captain Jos Buttler formed a significant partnership, adding 76 runs for the second wicket before England's innings faced setbacks due to Varun Chakravarthy's exceptional bowling. Chakravarthy ended with impressive figures of 5-24, showcasing his skill against England's batters and marking his second five-wicket haul in T20 cricket.
Having opted to bat, England initially appeared in control, but after Duckett's dismissal—caught off the bowling of Axar Patel—the team struggled, losing multiple wickets in quick succession. Nonetheless, Livingstone's counter-attack, featuring several sixes, helped stabilize the innings and push the score to a competitive total against India.
In response, India faced early challenges and fell to 51-3 within the powerplay, with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood taking crucial wickets. Hardik Pandya attempted to anchor the innings with a resilient knock of 40 runs, but regular wickets fell around him, culminating in a loss that prevented India from sealing the series with a 3-0 lead.
Following this match, England's victory has revived the series dynamics, setting the stage for an intriguing fourth T20 in Pune on Friday. As noted by England captain Jos Buttler, the team's execution of plans and strategic approaches reflected positively in this game, emphasizing the need for consistency moving forward.
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