England vs India: Hosts complete first T20 series win over tourists who suffer record defeat
Fourth T20 international, Bristol
India 158-7 (20 overs): Iyer 80 (49); Archer 2-20
England 159-1 (over 13.5): Creek 79* (35), Tuz 59* (42); Archdeep 1-41
England win by nine wickets, take 3-0 lead in five-match series
scorecard
England claimed their first T20 series victory against India as their opponents suffered a record fifth consecutive defeat in 20-over matches.
In the 159th over to win, Phil Salt and skipper Harry Brook put together an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 144 as England cruised towards their target with 13.5 overs remaining in the fourth T20 in Bristol.
Brook powered to 79 from 35 deliveries, while Salt reached 59 from 42 deliveries despite failing to score in his first nine balls.
England now hold an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the five-match series and have won the last three games nicely after the first fixture at Chester-le-Street was wiped out.
India’s losing streak, and two surprise defeats to Ireland prior to that series, are increasing the pressure on Shreyas Iyer, who took over as India T20 captain at the beginning of June.
Choosing to bat, Shreyas played a brave innings, scoring 80 off 49 balls at number four, but his teammates gave him little support as India finished the match 158-7.
Repeating their form from the last two matches, India are quick to hit shots that fall into the hands of English fielders waiting at the skis; 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the first to fall, lifting Jofra Archer to Sam Curran for 15 minutes.
Shivam Dube was the only other batsman to make it out of the maidens, scoring 22 off 23 balls in a 53-run fourth wicket partnership with Shreyas, before hitting a Will Jacks delivery to Tom Banton at long-on.
Archer, who finished with figures of 2-20, completed the India innings with neat footwork and kicked the ball towards the stumps to beat Axar Patel’s run from the non-striker’s end.
The series concludes in Southampton on Saturday (14:30 BST) as back-to-back T20 world champions India will look to avoid going winless for the first time in a five-match 20-over series.
