NEW DELHI: Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube commanding fifties were followed by an all-round effort from the bowlers as India outsmarted England by 15 runs in the fourth T20I in Pune to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in five-match series on Friday.
The thrilling T20I encounter saw India’s Harshit Rana making his debut as a concussion substitute and secured impressive figures of 3 for 33, helping India clinch the series.
India initially struggled at 79 for 5 before Hardik and left-handed batter Shivam formed a crucial 87-run partnership for the sixth wicket, taking the team to 181 for 9 after being asked to bat first.
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The bowlers then bowled out England for 166, with Rana and spinner Ravi Bishnoi claiming three wickets each.
The victory also extended India’s remarkable unbeaten T20I series streak at home to 17 since 2019.
Rana’s substitution for Dube, who was struck on the helmet by Jamie Overton’s delivery in the penultimate over, sparked debate among commentators. The replacement raised eyebrows as Dube was a batting all-rounder.
Rana made an immediate impact by catching England captain Jos Buttler at short third man off Bishnoi’s bowling. He then claimed his first T20I wicket by dismissing Liam Livingstone, followed by Jacob Bethel’s wicket.
Phil Salt and Ben Duckett started strongly with a 62-run opening partnership in 36 balls but their dismissals shifted momentum towards India.
Harry Brook’s quick-fire 51 off 26 balls briefly revived England’s chances, but his dismissal by Chakravarthy, who took another wicket in the same over, turned the match in India’s favor.
England’s batting ten collapsed against India’s spinners and Rana, with the team being dismissed in 19.4 overs.
In the first innings, England’s Saqib Mahmood, replacing Mark Wood, made an immediate impact by dismissing Sanju Samson for 12 with his first delivery.
Mahmood then removed Tilak Varma and Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav for a duck, creating early pressure on India.
Rinku Singh scored 30 and Abhishek Sharma contributed 29 runs in a counter-attacking partnership before Adil Rashid dismissed Abhishek.
After Brydon Carse dismissed Rinku, Pandya and Dube, who survived an early drop by Jos Buttler, launched a strong counter-attack.
Pandya’s aggressive innings included four boundaries and four sixes in his 30-ball stay before Jamie Overton dismissed him. Dube was run out on the final delivery.
The series concludes with the final match in Mumbai on Sunday.