Phil Salt's 70 powers England to 201/7 in 3rd T20I at Trent Bridge
Synopsis
Phil Salt's 43-ball 70 gave England the platform and Sam Curran's 41 not out sealed a 201/7 total that India have never chased against England in a T20I. With the series on the line and Prince Yadav and Harshit Rana taking two each without derailing the innings, India face their sternest test of the tour.
Key Takeaways
England posted 201/7 in 20 overs against India in the 3rd T20I at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on 8 July .
Phil Salt top-scored with 70 off 43 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes), dismissed by Axar Patel .
Sam Curran remained unbeaten on 41 off 24 balls , hitting four fours in the death overs.
Prince Yadav claimed 2-30 on his debut against England; Harshit Rana took 2-40 , including two wickets in two balls.
India must chase 200+ — a first against England in T20Is — to avoid an unassailable 2-0 series deficit .
Phil Salt's blazing 43-ball 70 and a composed 41 not out from Sam Curran propelled England to a challenging 201/7 in 20 overs against India in the third T20I of the five-match series at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Tuesday, 8 July. Prince Yadav and Harshit Rana claimed two wickets each for India, but could not prevent the hosts from setting a stiff target.
England's Innings: Salt Sets the Platform
Salt and Jos Buttler (38) gave England a measured but solid start, taking the hosts to 49/1 at the end of the Power-play. It was Rana who broke the opening stand, castling Buttler with a yorker that deflected off the batter's toes onto the leg stump — a dismissal as much about skill as fortune.
Salt continued to anchor the innings from the other end, raising his fifty in just 36 balls, striking six boundaries and one six along the way. He was eventually dismissed for 70 off 43 balls — including seven fours and three sixes — caught by Arshdeep Singh off Axar Patel, having plundered 18 runs in a single over before Axar had the final say.
India's Bowling: Wickets in Clusters, But Costly Overs
Prince Yadav, playing his first match against England in place of Ravi Bishnoi, marked the occasion with his first two international wickets, finishing with figures of 2-30. After dismissing Buttler, Yadav removed England captain Harry Brook for 16 off 12 balls, with Abhishek Sharma taking the catch.
Harshit Rana produced the most dramatic passage of play, taking the wickets of Jacob Bethell (13) and Tom Banton off successive deliveries, reducing England to 111/4 at the end of the 12th over. Despite those twin strikes, England's lower order ensured the damage was contained.
Late Hitting Pushes England Past 200
With Salt gone, Curran took charge, hammering four fours in a 24-ball 41 not out to steer England toward a formidable total. Will Jacks contributed a cameo of 14 off seven balls, including two sixes, to help push England beyond the 200-run mark in the final overs.
Series Context: A Must-Win for India
This is the first time India will chase 200 against England in a T20I. The series stakes are acute — India must win to avoid falling to an unassailable 2-0 deficit with two matches remaining. The first T20I was abandoned without a result due to heavy rain, while England won the second match in Manchester. A defeat here would effectively hand England the series.
Brief Scores: England 201/7 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 70, Sam Curran 41*, Jos Buttler 38; Prince Yadav 2-30, Harshit Rana 2-40) vs India.
Point of View
And while Yadav delivered two wickets, the middle-overs economy across the attack was not tight enough to restrict England below 180. Harshit Rana's back-to-back strikes at 111/4 suggested a collapse was possible — yet Curran's composure in the death overs exposed India's inability to close out innings. Chasing 200 against England in England, with a series elimination on the cards, will be the most revealing examination of this Indian T20I side in recent memory.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was England's total in the 3rd T20I against India at Trent Bridge?
England posted 201/7 in 20 overs in the 3rd T20I at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on 8 July. Phil Salt top-scored with 70 off 43 balls and Sam Curran remained unbeaten on 41 off 24 balls.
How did Phil Salt perform in the 3rd T20I?
Phil Salt scored 70 off 43 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes, and raised his fifty in just 36 deliveries. He was dismissed caught by Arshdeep Singh off Axar Patel after plundering 18 runs in one over.
Which Indian bowlers took wickets in the 3rd T20I?
Prince Yadav and Harshit Rana each claimed two wickets. Yadav finished with 2-30 on his debut against England, while Rana took 2-40, including two wickets off successive balls to reduce England to 111/4.
What is at stake for India in the 3rd T20I?
India must win the match to prevent England from taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match series, with two games still remaining. The first T20I was abandoned due to rain and England won the second in Manchester.
Has India ever chased 200 against England in a T20I before?
No — according to the match context, this is the first time India will be chasing 200 against England in a T20I, making the target historically significant for the visitors.
