England thrashed India by nine wickets in Bristol on Thursday night to move 3-0 up in the five-match series and clinch their first ever T20I series win over India.
According to Sky Sports, Shreyas Iyer’s tourists posted 158-7 after winning the toss and batting, the captain carrying a stuttering innings with an unbeaten 80 off 49 balls. Jofra Archer (2-20) and Josh Tongue (2-36) again set the tone, just as they did in England’s record 125-run win at Trent Bridge, with Will Jacks and Adil Rashid chipping in as the middle order folded around Iyer.
Harry Brook And Phil Salt Leave Shreyas Iyer’s India Facing A Whitewash
Jos Buttler fell early for 8, but Brook crunched eight fours and four sixes in an unbeaten 79 off 35 balls, adding an unbroken 146 with Phil Salt (59 not out) to reach the target in 13.5 overs — with 37 balls to spare. ESPNcricinfo reports it was England’s fastest successful chase of a 150-plus target in T20Is.
The result confirmed the fears raised in ReadCricket’s Bristol preview, with a cornered India unable to respond after the washout in Durham and defeats at Old Trafford and Trent Bridge.
“It is always good to beat India as they are a strong side,” player of the match Brook told Sky Sports. “It would be pretty cool for us to be world No 1, to be honest. That is definitely an aim.”
Iyer told Sky Sports his side are “in a transition stage” and “fell short in execution”. Sky Sports also reports that victory in Saturday’s final match in Southampton would carry England above India to the top of the T20I world rankings.
