England vs India T20 Series: India Post 158/7 in Final Innings

Overs0.6

Score4 - 0

Arshdeep Singh to Phil Salt, A big appeal for LBW, but the umpire says no. The keeper Ishan Kishan seems interested but the stand-in captain, Tilak Varma opts against the review. Hard length on middle, jags back in whilst staying a tad low. Phil Salt looks to swivel-pull but misses and gets hit high on the pads.

Welcome back for England's reply. The two umpires have made their way out to the middle. Shreyas Iyer has not taken the field at the start, so Tilak Varma is in charge for India. Phil Salt and Jos Buttler will open the innings for England. Arshdeep Singh will kick things off with the new ball. Salt is on strike with a slip in place. Here we go...

England chase history - 159 is what England need to put the series to bed and seal their first-ever bilateral T20I series win over India spanning multiple matches. Given the way the hosts have batted over the last couple of games, they will start as favourites to hunt down the target. India will need to produce something special, and early wickets are an absolute must for them. The chase is coming up shortly, so stay tuned.

Iyer fought a lone battle - 15 runs came off the 2nd over of the Powerplay, and that was as good as it got for India in the first six overs. England's quicks once again relentlessly hammered the shorter lengths and pegged the visitors back with a couple of strikes. Abhishek Sharma's dismissal pushed India further onto the back foot. With Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube forced to rebuild, Harry Brook kept the attack pace-heavy against Dube and was careful not to offer him much spin. When he eventually did turn to Will Jacks, the off-spinner won that battle and capped off a superb spell built on excellent control. Iyer held the innings together and was particularly severe on Adil Rashid, but couldn't provide the late flourish his side so desperately needed.

India denied the finishing kick - Just 8 runs in the last two overs, and it could well prove to be the difference by the end of the night. England will be pleased with their effort in the field. Apart from Adil Rashid, every bowler played his part in keeping India in check. The quicks, in particular, once again stuck to the hard lengths and short-ball plan, making a conscious effort to keep the ball away from India's hitting arc. India, for their part, struggled against that approach yet again, with several batters falling while trying to hit across the line.

W

Overs19.6

Score158 - 7

Jofra Archer to Shreyas Iyer, OUT! AXAR PATEL IS RUN OUT! A skillful piece of play from Jofra Archer and India finish with 158/7 after 20 overs. Archer hammers the hard length and gets the ball to jag back into the batter. Shreyas Iyer hangs back and gets beaten, getting hit on the thigh pad. The ball just drops down on the track, and the batters look to steal a leg bye. Archer is quick to run after it and kicks it with the right boot, scoring a direct hit at the keeper's end. Replays show that Patel is short of his crease and Archer only gives away 4 runs in the final over.

W

Overs19.3

Score157 - 6

Jofra Archer to Washington Sundar, OUT! CAUGHT! The slower ball does the trick again for England. Jofra Archer comes around the wicket and digs in a bumper, angling it in at the batter, but it's bowled slower. Washington Sundar gets inside the line to hook but hits it straight down the throat of Adil Rashid at fine leg. Rashid is well inside the ropes and takes it with ease.

1

Overs19.1

Score155 - 5

Jofra Archer to Shreyas Iyer, Straight up, but lands safely. On a good length, slower too, holds a bit in the deck. Shreyas Iyer looks to hoick it over wide long on but miscues it badly and the ball lands just beyond the mid off region. Single taken.

1

Overs18.3

Score152 - 5

Sam Curran to Shreyas Iyer, Very full again, on the stumps, Iyer drills the low full toss down to long on and calls for two. He will only get a single this time.

6

Overs17.6

Score150 - 5

Adil Rashid to Shreyas Iyer, SIX! That's massive, and Shreyas Iyer has really bossed this battle between him and Adil Rashid today. Tossed up, drifted into middle and leg, Iyer dances down the track and hammers it straight down the ground for a biggie. 150 up for India.

W

Overs16.5

Score130 - 5

Josh Tongue to Tilak Varma, OUT! CAUGHT! Josh Tongue hits right back and that's a soft dismissal for Tilak Varma. Varma shows his cards early by running down the pitch and backing away. Tongue sees this and bangs in a slower short ball, cramping Varma for room. Varma just tries to angle it away but ends up cushioning it into the safe hands of Rehan Ahmed at backward point. India are 130/5 with just over 3 overs remaining.

1

Overs15.6

Score121 - 4

Will Jacks to Shreyas Iyer, Gets away with that one, does Jacks, but he ends a fine spell of bowling, with figures of 4-0-28-1. Dragged well short on off, Shreyas Iyer swats it off the front foot and down to long on for a single.

1

Overs15.3

Score118 - 4

Will Jacks to Tilak Varma, Oh, that's nicely bowled. Jacks slows it right up, floating it on a nagging length on off. Tilak Varma backs away to cut but gets an under edge past the off stump and past the keeper for a single.