AHMEDABAD : Another clinical performance from England has resulted in a victory for them over India by 8 wickets in the third T20. The toss was won by Morgan who decided to bowl first. Their side replaced Tom Curran with Mark Wood in their XI while India brought Rohit back in place of Suryakumar.

KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma were to open the innings for India and Ishan Kishan would bat at one down followed by Kohli at four. Rohit who could have been a potential threat to England, did not look the most comfortable in his short stay at the crease. He was lucky to be dropped by Jofra off his bowling and later was dismissed to a short delivery by Wood while he was looking for room. Mark Wood’s pace had troubled India in the first T20 and yesterday was no different because he soon dismissed both the openers when Rahul’s middle-stump was cleaned up by a beautiful nip-backer. India toppled to 24/3 when Ishan Kishan top edged a bouncer from Jordan which was caught by Buttler while running backwards. Batting first for India has clearly been a problem and if they do not start well and lose early wickets then putting up a match-winning target becomes increasingly difficult.

Image courtesy : BCCI

After consuming 19 deliveries for his 23, Rishabh Pant was run out as Virat decided to go for the single on a misfield by the keeper which resulted in the southpaw reacting slowly and being dismissed. However, the only player who could take India to a better position was Virat Kohli. He was scoring at a run-a-ball untill the death, when he put the foot on the pedal and started to toy with the field to score his boundaries. He used the crease very efficiently to place the ball in the gaps along with striking sixes with the use of his wristy hands. The innings cannot be understood as one of his best innings ever in T20 cricket but there would be few other innings where he has finished this strongly while batting. India ended the 20 overs at 156/6 with Virat at 77 (46) to provide India with at least something to bowl at.

The target was always going to be an easy chase for England provided that they did not lose wickets. India had actually started well to control the runs in the first few overs utill the spinner Chahal came on and Buttler decided to dance down the track and deposit literally anything was bowled at him in the stands. Chahal’s over led to a wicket in the form of Jason Roy but that did not really affect England’s approach to the chase. Buttler never really looked back as he remained not out at 83 (52) along with Bairstow 40 (28) to finish the match for England with ten balls to spare.

Mark Wood was adjudged the man-of-the-match for his brilliant 3 for 31 in 4 overs.

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