Thu, Jan 30, 2025 page8

• England defeat India to keep T20 series alive

  • AFP, RAJKOT, India
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  Disciplined bowling and a quickfire 51 by Ben Duckett on Tuesday helped England bounce back to win the third T20 international against India and keep the series alive.

  Duckett’s 28-ball knock set up England to make 171-9 despite a collapse triggered by India spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who returned figures of 5-24 in Rajkot.

  England’s bowlers then combined to limit India to 145-9, sealing a 26-run win in a five-match series now only led 2-1 by India.

  

  England’s Ben Duckett plays a shot against India in the third T20 international in Rajkot, India, on Tuesday.

  Photo: Reuters

  Leg-spinner Adil Rashid impressed with figures of 1-15 from an excellent four-over spell, while England’s fast bowlers struck regularly.

  Jamie Overton took three wickets, while Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse claimed two each.

  “The guys bowled really well, was nice to show off their skills,” England skipper Jos Buttler said. “Not about how fast they can bowl, but how well they can adapt to the wicket.”

  

  From left, England’s Jos Buttler, Jamie Overton and Ben Duckett celebrate after taking the wicket of India’s Hardik Pandya in the third T20 international at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, India, on Tuesday.

  Photo: Reuters

  Buttler praised Rashid as the “most important player” in the team.

  Hardik Pandya stuttered to 40 off 35 deliveries before being dismissed by Overton when the required run rate climbed to more than 20 an over.

  Archer struck first with the wicket of Sanju Samson, who was caught at mid-on by Rashid.

  Carse dismissed Abhishek Sharma for 24, with Archer taking a spectacular catch while running backwards from mid-off.

  Mark Wood sent back skipper Suryakumar Yadav, with the batter top-edging a quick, rising delivery into the gloves of wicketkeeper Phil Salt.

  Wickets kept tumbling as Rashid bowled Tilak Varma and Overton sent back Washington Sundar to reduce India to 85-5, and Pandya never seriously threatened to take India over the line.

  Earlier, Duckett’s blazing start and then a 24-ball 43 by Liam Livingstone boosted the total and the lower-order chipped in after England slipped to 127-8 in 16 overs.

  “We always learn from a T20 game, conceding 170 from 127 for eight was too much,” Yadav said. “Batting also, we have a few things to learn.”

  Duckett put on 76 runs with Buttler, who hit 24, after losing his opening partner Salt.

  Chakravarthy broke the stand with Buttler’s wicket, a caught-behind dismissal given after a review.

  Duckett, who struck two sixes and seven fours, reached his half-century in 26 balls, but was out in the same over off Axar Patel’s left-arm spin.

  England soon lost their way against India’s spinners as Ravi Bishnoi bowled Harry Brook for 8, and Chakravarthy struck twice to send back Jamie Smith and Overton in the next over.

  Chakravarthy returned in his final over to take two more and register his second five-wicket haul in T20 internationals.

  Livingstone stood defiant and smashed Bishnoi for three sixes in the space of four balls before he holed out off Pandya, but his knock proved key.

  Fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who returned to international action for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final, bowled three wicketless overs for 25 runs.

  The fourth match is tomorrow in Pune.
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