In a must-win situation, England came back strong with an incisive bowling attack to defeat India by 26 runs in the third T20I. Despite Mohammed Shami's impressive comeback and Varun Chakravarthy's five-wicket haul, India's batters failed to chase down the target of 171 and were restricted to 145/9. Adil Rashid's skillful leg-spin and the express pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood proved to be the key for England, who now trail 2-1 in the five-match series.
England Triumphs in Must-Win T20I, Secures Series Lead
In a pulsating encounter at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, England emerged victorious by 26 runs in the third T20I against India. The win came in a "must-win" situation for England, as they trailed India 2-0 in the five-match series.
Indian Batting Struggles
Despite a promising start from openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, India's batting lineup failed to capitalize on the platform they had built. The England bowlers, led by Adil Rashid's economical leg-spin, kept runs in check and wickets flowing.
Mohammed Shami, returning from injury, bowled with impressive pace and accuracy, dismissing Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler in quick succession. However, it was not enough to prevent England from setting a challenging target of 171.
Chakraborty's Five-Wicket Haul
India's hopes of chasing down the target were further dented by a sensational five-wicket haul from Varun Chakravarthy. The mystery spinner bamboozled the English batsmen with his variations, including his deceptive googly and subtle changes of pace.
Despite Chakravarthy's heroics, India's middle and lower order failed to provide the necessary support. Only Suryakumar Yadav (22 off 14) and Hardik Pandya (29 off 23) offered some resistance, as England wrapped up the innings for 145 runs in 19.3 overs.
Adil Rashid's Match-Winning Spell
Adil Rashid was the standout bowler for England, finishing with figures of 2/18 in his four overs. He bowled with exceptional control and accuracy, keeping the Indian batsmen in check throughout his spell.
Jofra Archer and Mark Wood's Express Pace
England's victory was also aided by the express pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood. Archer bowled with searing pace and took key wickets at crucial moments, while Wood generated uncomfortable bounce that troubled the Indian batsmen.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
Q: Who was the Player of the Match in the 3rd T20I? A: Adil Rashid for his match-winning bowling figures of 2/18.
Q: How many wickets did Varun Chakravarthy take? A: Five wickets.
Q: What was the target set by England? A: 171 runs.
Q: How many runs did India score? A: 145 runs for 9 wickets.
Q: What is the current series score? A: England lead 2-1.
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