• England defeated India by 26 runs in the third T20I of the five-match series.

  • India's batting faltered under the pressure of a challenging target of 172.

Twitter reactions: England outsmart India in 3rd T20I to keep the series alive
England (Image Source: X)

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England defeated India by 26 runs in the 3rd T20I at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot, to narrow the deficit in the five-match series to 2-1. Choosing to field first, India struggled to contain England’s power-hitters in form of Ben Duckett and Liam Livingstone, while their batting faltered under the pressure of a challenging target of 172. England’s bowlers, led by Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer, capitalized on India’s struggles to keep the series alive.

England’s resilient batting sets the stage

England posted a competitive 171/9 on the back of a crucial knock by Duckett (51 off 28), who displayed aggression and precision against India’s spinners. Supported by Livingstone’s fiery 43 off 24, the middle-order ensured England capitalized on the powerplay and middle overs. Jos Buttler (24 off 22) provided stability at the top but fell to a well-executed plan by Varun Chakravarthy, who was the pick of the bowlers with remarkable figures of 5/24.

Chakravarthy’s guile dismantled England’s batting, picking wickets regularly and keeping their run rate in check. However, lower-order contributions from Adil Rashid and Mark Wood ensured England finished strongly despite losing wickets in clusters. India’s bowlers had a mixed day, with Ravi Bishnoi conceding 46 runs for one wicket and Hardik Pandya (2/33) offering occasional breakthroughs. Axar Patel (1/19) maintained control, but Washington Sundar and Mohammed Shami struggled, leaking runs under pressure.

Also WATCH: Varun Chakravarthy completes his five-wicket haul with double strike in an over | IND vs ENG, 3rd T20I

India’s batting collapse seals England’s victory

Chasing 172, India’s innings never gained momentum, as regular wickets derailed their chase. The early loss of Sanju Samson (3) and Abhishek Sharma (24 off 14) in the powerplay added pressure. Suryakumar Yadav (14 off 7) looked promising with a quick cameo but fell to Mark Wood, while Tilak Varma (18 off 14) and Sundar (6 off 15) struggled to anchor the innings.

Hardik (40 off 35) fought valiantly, but the lack of partnerships and rising required rate made the chase increasingly difficult. England’s bowlers, particularly Jamie Overton (3/23) and Jofra Archer (2/33), executed their plans to perfection, consistently striking at crucial junctures. Adil Rashid’s economical spell (1/15) applied pressure in the middle overs, leaving India with too much to do in the death overs. India’s tailenders offered little resistance as they ended at 146/9 in 20 overs. England’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding ensured they stayed in contention for the series, setting up an intriguing battle in the final two games.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Also READ: Indian batting coach defends Suryakumar Yadav despite his struggles in ongoing T20I series against England

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