4th T20I: Bishnoi and Rana Shine as India Clinches Series with a Nail-Biting 15-Run Victory over England
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Synopsis
In a thrilling fourth T20I, India clinched the series against England with a 15-run victory, led by stellar performances from Ravi Bishnoi and Harshit Rana. The match showcased dramatic shifts in momentum and highlighted India's resilient comeback after a previous loss.
Key Takeaways
- Ravi Bishnoi and Harshit Rana excelled with three wickets each.
- India achieved a 3-1 series lead with one match remaining.
- Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube contributed significantly with the bat.
- Saqib Mahmood made history with a triple-wicket maiden.
- England's middle order struggled against India's spin attack.
Pune, Jan 31 (NationPress) Ravi Bishnoi (3-28) and debutant Harshit Rana (3-33) each took three wickets as India triumphed over England by 15 runs in the fourth T20I held at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Friday. This victory granted India an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, with the final T20I set to occur at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.
After a setback in the third T20I in Rajkot, India rebounded strongly, having initially won the first two matches in Kolkata and Chennai.
In the earlier stages, Hardik Pandya (53) and Shivam Dube (53) put together a dynamic partnership, rescuing India from a challenging situation and propelling them to a competitive total of 181/9 following Saqib Mahmood's impressive bowling figures of (3 for 35).
Phil Salt and Ben Duckett approached their innings with aggression, capitalizing on the Power-play. Salt showcased his skills against Arshdeep Singh in the opening over, hitting two boundaries to set the tone for England. Despite Arshdeep attempting to find swing, Salt effectively took advantage of the conditions. Duckett also contributed to England's rapid scoring, getting off the mark with a fortunate edge and quickly finding his rhythm.
Initially, the introduction of spin by Varun Chakravarthy did not slow England's charge. Duckett continued his assault, reverse-sweeping and driving for runs, taking England to 53/0 in just five overs. However, Bishnoi was brought on for the final over of the Power-play and delivered a crucial breakthrough, catching Duckett off guard with a miscued shot that led to a catch by Suryakumar Yadav. Duckett’s innings ended at 39 off 19 balls, marking a turning point in the match.
The momentum shifted further when Axar Patel dismissed Phil Salt, who attempted a drive but fell for a low delivery. Salt's departure left England reeling at 62/2.
As England's captain Jos Buttler entered the fray, hoping to stabilize the innings, Bishnoi struck again with a well-disguised delivery. Buttler edged it to Harshit Rana, further derailing England's chase at 67/3.
With three quick wickets, Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone had to rebuild. They managed to steady the innings, but India maintained pressure, limiting England’s scoring chances. After 10 overs, England stood at 86/3, with the required run rate increasing.
The match took an unexpected turn when Saqib Mahmood achieved a historic triple-wicket maiden, taking out Sanju Samson (1), Tilak Varma (0), and Suryakumar Yadav (0), leaving India in a precarious situation at 12/3.
With India at 98/5, the responsibility fell on Pandya and Dube, who formed an 88-run partnership. With England needing 96 runs from the last 10 overs, the chase remained feasible.
After Dube sustained a concussion, Harshit Rana was brought in as a substitute, stirring controversy reminiscent of past substitutions. Rana made an immediate impact, bowling at speeds around 150 km/h and taking out Liam Livingstone for 9 runs, leaving England at 99/4.
While Brook remained a key player for England, he faced pressure from Rana. However, he managed to score a boundary, keeping England in contention.
Just as England seemed to regain control, Chakravarthy struck, dismissing Brook for a well-played fifty. Brook was out for 51, and England had collapsed to 133/6.
Rana then lured Jacob Bethell into a risky shot, leading to another wicket. Soon after, Bishnoi cleaned up Saqib Mahmood, ending with impressive figures of 3/28. Rana concluded his debut with 3 for 33.
With Arshdeep claiming the final wicket of Mahmood, India emerged victorious by 15 runs, sealing the series at 3-1, making the last T20I at Wankhede Stadium essentially meaningless.
Brief scores:
India 181/9 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 53, Shivam Dube 53; Saqid Mahmood 3-35, Jamie Overton 2-32) defeated England 166 all out in 19.4 overs (Harry Brook 51, Ben Duckett 39; Ravi Bishnoi 3-28, Harshit Rana 3-33) by 15 runs.
