PIX: India outclass England, seal five-match T20I series

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Last updated on: January 31, 2025 23:34 IST

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Images from the fourth T20 International between India and England in Pune on Friday.

Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya during their 87-run partnership.

IMAGE: India’s Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya celebrate a boundary during their 87-run partnership in the fourth T20I against England in Pune on Friday. Photograph: BCCI

Harshit Rana and Ravi Bishnoi took three wickets each after Hardik Pandya's fiery knock and comeback man Shivam Dube's belligerence as India defeated England by 15 runs in the fourth T20 International, in Pune, on Friday.

Following the victory, India took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

Spinner Bishnoi (3/28) and concussion substitute Harshit Rana (3/33) shared six wickets between them after Varun Chakravarthy's 2-28 to bowl out England for 166.

 

Harshit Rana celebrates after dismissing Jacob Bethell

IMAGE: Harshit Rana celebrates with his India teammates after dismissing Jacob Bethell. Photograph: BCCI

Pacer Rana replaced all-rounder Shivam Dube as a concussion substitute after he was struck on the helmet in the final over of India's innings.

Dube, who scored 53, was hit on the helmet by the penultimate delivery of the Indian innings from Jamie Overton.

Following the mandatory concussion test, Dube was cleared to play. Howevery, he was run-out to the final delivery of the innings.

Rana, who recently played in the opening Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, came in to bowl in the 12th over and made an immediate impact, dismissing Liam Livingstone for 9.

Varun Chakravarthy celebrates the wicket of Harry Brook

IMAGE: Varun Chakravarthy celebrates the wicket of Harry Brook. Photograph: BCCI

England skipper Jos Buttler appeared unhappy with the decision and was seen having a discussion with the umpires on the field. According to ICC's rules, teams are only allowed to name like-for-like replacements if a batsman is ruled out due to a concussion.

Bishnoi drew first blood for India, removing Ben Duckett in the sixth over. Following that wicket, India had the upper hand and gradually ejected the top England batters.

Skipper Jos Buttler (2 runs from 3 balls) failed to shine and succumbed against one from Bishnoi in the eighth over.

Harshit Rana exults after dismissing Liam Livingstone

IMAGE: Harshit Rana exults after dismissing Liam Livingstone. Photograph: BCCI

Harry Brook (51 runs from 26 balls, 5 fours and 2 sixes) was the only England batter to put up some resistance. His fiery knock gave the visitors hope before he was dismissed in the 15th over by Varun Chakravarthy.

Jamie Overton (19 runs from 15 balls, 1 four and 1 six) and Adil Rashid (10 not out from 6 balls, 1 six) scored some crucial runs but England fell short.

Earlier, Pandya and Dube propelled India to a par-score of 181 for 9 after the top-order failed to negotiate the short of length deliveries bowled by England pacers.

Coming in at No. 7, Pandya was stylish and destructive in equal measure while hitting four boundaries and an equal number of maximums in his 30-ball 53.

England players celebrate after dismissing India opener Sanju Samson early.

IMAGE: England players celebrate after dismissing India opener Sanju Samson early. Photograph: BCCI

Dube (53 off 34 balls) also did not do too badly in a stand of 87 off 48 balls for the sixth wicket after pacer Saqib Mahmood (3/35 in 4 overs) reduced India to 12 for 3 by the end of the second over.

Dube was back in national colours after bagging a pair in the Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir last week.

But Pandya, who many feel can take up M S Dhoni's role as a finisher, began with an aggressive approach, then rotated the strike for a few overs before launching a brutal final assault on the English bowlers.

Saqib Mahmood reacts after dismissing Suryakumar Yadav.

IMAGE: Saqib Mahmood reacts after dismissing Suryakumar Yadav. Photograph: BCCI

However, his innings was cut short by one shot too many.

He had an able ally in Dube, who hit seven fours and two sixes as India got as many as 109 runs in the back-10.

Mahmood, playing his first game of the series, struck thrice in his first over and all three were well-planned dismissals.

Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh celebrate a boundary.

IMAGE: Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh celebrate a boundary. Photograph: BCCI

By now, the world knows about Sanju Samson's (1) susceptibility against quick bowling, especially deliveries pitched on either hard length or back of a length.

Mahmood bowled one slightly back of length and the short arm pull went straight into the palms of Brydon Carse at deep fine leg boundary.

In-form Tilak Varma (0) was out first ball as he tried to use the pace and slash it over third man.

Adil Rashid celebrates dismissing Abhishek Sharma.

IMAGE: Adil Rashid celebrates dismissing Abhishek Sharma. Photograph: BCCI

The most well-thought out dismissal was certainly skipper Suryakumar Yadav's (0), who is undergoing the worst slump in his international career.

Jos Buttler stationed a short mid-wicket fielder to exploit the Indian skipper's propensity to hit the uppish-flick shot. The ploy was executed with precision as India were reduced to 12 for 3 by the end of the second over.

Hardik Pandya waves to the dressing room as he walks back after scoring 53 off just 31 balls.

IMAGE: Hardik Pandya waves to the dressing room as he walks back after scoring 53 off just 31 balls. Photograph: BCCI

Abhishek Sharma (29 off 19 balls) and Rinku Singh (30 off 26 balls), who after a long time came in to bat only in the third over, started well but couldn't convert it into big scores.

They added 45 runs for the fourth wicket but then were out in quick succession, leaving India in a spot of bother at 79 for 5.

Dube, playing his first game since the T20 World Cup final, started with a big six off Adil Rashid but never looked comfortable against raw pace.

Shivam Dube waves to the stands after bringing up his 50.

IMAGE: Shivam Dube waves to the stands after bringing up his 50. Photograph: BCCI

However, when Rashid flighted, he did take the bait and hit some lusty blows.

Pandya looked regal when he held his pose while hitting Brydon Carse through covers and his six over long-off was equally exhilarating. Late, his short arm pull and slap off Jamie Overton fetched him a six and four.

Towards the end, the six off Jofra Archer over long-off getting deep into the crease will be etched in memory for long time.

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