Cricket has witnessed some serious collapses but none beats England’s in this match. The last 19 balls bowled in the match accounted for 8 runs and saw 8 English wickets tumble upon one another sending the Indian team and the Bengaluru crowd into a frenzy. What looked like a potential thriller suddenly turned into a dud as India beat England by a massive 75 runs in the third and the final T20 match of the series to win the series 2-1. The win saw Yuzvendra Chahal climb into the record books with the third best bowling figures (25 for 6) for any bowler ever in T20 international matches and also ensured that Virat Kohli remains unbeaten in any series since becoming the full time captain of the Indian cricket team.
As has been the trend, England put India in to bat after winning the toss. The decision made perfect sense as the Chinnaswamy stadium at Bengaluru has always been a high scoring ground that suits the sides chasing. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, who open the batting together at this venue for RCB also in IPL, were expected to display some fireworks but Virat failed yet again in the series as he got run out pretty early in the innings for just 2 runs. Rahul stayed for a bit but failed to convert the start as he too walked back after scoring 22 runs off 18 balls. Suresh Raina though made sure that Kohli’s wicket early did not hamper the Indian innings. Raina looked in fine touch as he partnered Rahul and Dhoni for consecutive half century partnerships. Raina finally fell for a well made 65 runs off just 46 balls trying to hit inside out straight into the hands of extra cover fielder. Yuvraj Joined the well set Dhoni in the middle and brought the crowd to its feet with an adrenaline rushing cameo of 27 runs off just 10 balls that included three sixes and a boundary off consecutive deliveries from Jordan in the 18th over of the Indian innings that yielded 24 runs and propelled India towards the 200 run mark. At the other end Dhoni too blasted his way to his maiden T20 international half century. Dhoni got out in the last over of the innings for 56 runs from 36 balls. Hardik Pandya’s blitz of 11 off 4 balls ensured that India reached 202 for 6 in their 20 overs. Debutant Rishabh Pant was unbeaten at 5 runs from 3 balls.
England Chase got off to the worst possible start as Sam Billings was picked up for a first ball duck by Yuzvendra Chahal. Jason Roy and Joe Root scored briskly to keep a check on the required run rate and added 47 runs together before Amit Mishra sent Roy back for 32. England captain Eoin Morgan joined Joe Root and ably picked the chase back up on its way. Morgan hit 3 consecutive sixes off Suresh Raina in the 12th over of the England innings to align his team on the route to victory. Just as England looked like getting ahead in the match something happened. Amit Mishra came on to bowl his last and the 13th over of the innings and though he did not pick up a wicket (he could have but Yuvraj dropped a simple catch from Joe Root) in that over but bamboozled Joe Root completely with his variety to bowl 4 consecutive dot balls to him to give away just 3 runs in the over that not just pushed the asking rate up but also rattled the batsmen. The results immediately followed in the next over as Chahal induced false shots from Morgan and Root off consecutive deliveries to send them packing. Morgan made 40 from 21 balls while Root scored 42 from 37. And that was the starting of the end as Jos Buttler fell to Bumrah for a duck in the next over and the procession continued. From 119 for 2 England skittled out to 127 all out, giving India the series.
A disastrous tour for England comes to an end as they lost the series in all the three formats. England played well in phases, especially the batsmen but the Indian team always found better of them. England is still undoubtedly the best limited overs outfit going around but this was not their tour to be.
Ind vs Eng, 3rd T20, Bengaluru
India 202/6 (20 overs)
England 127 all out (16.3 overs)
India win by 75 runs
Player of the match: Yuzvendra Chahal
Player of the series: Yuzvendra Chahal