Go 3-1 up in 5-match series with 15-run victory over England in 4th T20I in Pune
Half-centurions Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya stitch together 87-run match-winning partnership for 6th wicket, the 2nd highest by an Indian pair for the sixth wicket or below
With latest 50, Hardik Pandya has become first Indian allrounder to score 1500 runs, picking up more than 50 wickets and accumulating five fifties
He needs another six wickets to become only the second player after Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan to achieve the double of 1000 T20I runs and 100 T20I wickets
In the Pune T20I, India once again demonstrated their power-hitting supremacy in the middle overs. Since the start of 2024, in over numbers 7 to 16, no ICC full-member side has scored at a faster rate (9.41 per over) or hit more fours (182) and sixes (141) than India have
Dream T20I debut for Harshit Rana (3-33), controversially allowed as concussion substitute for Shivam Dube who got hit on the helmet on the penultimate delivery of India’s innings, with several former cricketers arguing that it was not a ‘like for like’ substitution as mandated in the ICC rules and regulations
Final match in Mumbai on Sunday
12-1, 12-2, 12-3, it’s not often that you see wickets falling like that even in a T20 match. But no so sensible batting by India’s top order batters made it happen in the 4th T20I vs England at Pune against a fast medium bowler they were facing for the first time. Thank you so much! The bowler Saqib Mahmood, playing his first match of the 5-match series, replacing genuine fast bowler Mark Wood, wrapped himself in glory for the feat, becoming the first bowler in the history of T20Is to bowl a three-wicket maiden over.
But India not only bounced back, largely powered by a magnificent 87-run partnership for the sixth wicket between half-centurions Shivam Dube, who replaced Dhruv Jurel in the match, and Hardik Pandya, which witnessed a flurry of fours and sixes, but were able to defend what appeared a below par total (181) on a good wicket conducive to stroke making.
England openers were on song in the run chase, but as has been happening in the past the team was unable to capitalise as Indian bowlers, especially the spinners, took control. Eventually India won the match by 15 runs and wrapped up the series with an unassailable 3-1 lead, but the score did not paint a true picture of how close the visitors were to break even in the series.
It was a dream T20I debut for India’s specialist pacer Harshit Rana, who was controversially allowed as a concussion substitute for allrounder Shivam Dube (included in the playing XI for the match largely as a specialist batsman, in place of Dhruv Jurel). Having played a brilliant knock Dube was hit on the side of the helmet by a well-directed bouncer from England pacer Jamie Overton on the penultimate ball of India’s innings and had to leave the field in the second over of the England innings due to concussion.
Harshit claimed three wickets for 33 runs in his four overs and contributed majorly to India’s victory.
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Pick of Indian bowlers
Leg break bowler Ravi Bishnoi was the pick of the Indian bowlers finishing with 3-28 of his four overs. After initially uncharacteristically proving largely ineffective and going for runs, Varun Chakravarthy’s rebounded with a two-wicket over, which marked a crucial turning point in the match. Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh, the latter returning to the team in place of Mohammed Shami after sitting out the third T20I match at Rajkot, finished with a wicket apiece.
Earlier, England captain Jos Buttler finally won his first toss of the series and decided to bowl first. It was a typical cracker of a start from left-handed Abhishek Sharma who waded into England strike bowler Jofra Archer, striking him for a six and a four in the very first over.
Disaster strikes
But then disaster struck in the 2nd over bowled by Saqib Mahmood. It appeared as if the Indian batters were determined to take him apart from ball one. However, that aggressive posture proved counterproductive. Right-handed Sanju Samson perished first ball mishitting a short-pitched delivery straight into the hands of Brydon Carse in the deep. His run of poor scores in the series continues: 26, 5, 3, and 1.
With the series wrapped up, India could look at a replacement for him in the final T20I match at the Wankhede in Mumbai on Sunday.
Stylish left-hander Tilak Varma, who has been in tremendous form, too did not wait a single ball to get a feel of the bowler and the wicket. He gave Mahmood the charge and an edge flew into the safe hands of Jofra Archer at deep point. Out for a duck.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, who too has not got going in the series, survived just three balls, before falling into a trap set for him of the last ball. Playing an on-drive he failed to keep it down and was taken by Carse at short mid-wicket where he was placed precisely for such a shot. Surya became the second batter to depart for a duck in the over. He has only 26 runs against his name in the series so far.
Another left-hander Rinku Singh joined Abhishek Sharma, and the duo stabilised the innings with a 45-run partnership with a fine display of hitting, before Adil Rashid got the better of Abhishek, attempting a slog sweep which found Jacob Bethell in the deep. His 29 came of just 19 balls (4x4s, 1×6).
Dube dropped first ball, costly miss
In came yet another left-hander Shivam Dube. He almost became Rashid’s second victim, an edge travelling quickly and high to the left of Jos Buttler in the slips. Despite a valiant attempt by the England captain, diving fell length, he could not hold on to the difficult chance. The reprieve proved costly as the hard-hitting allrounder went on to plunder the England bowling attack for 53 runs (of 34 balls, 7x4s, 2x6s). He was particularly severe on Rashid.
However, at the other end, Rinku Singh departed edging a big hit of Carse to be taken by Rashid in the deep. His 30 came of 26 balls (4x4s, 1×6). India 79-5 in 10.4 overs.
The left-right hand combination was restored when allrounder Hardik Pandya made his entry into the arena. After a sedate start from him, the duo unleashed a blistering attack on the England bowlers. For the first time in the series Hardik was seen at his best, that effortless ease in his shots was a treat to watch.
Match-winning stand
Their partnership of 87 runs, coming of only 44 balls, took the Indian total to 166 with the prospect of 200 very much on the cards. However, Hardik fell, caught in the deep of Overton in the 18th over of the innings. His 53 of 30 balls was studded with 4x4s and 4x6s.
Shivam Dube struck a couple of more lusty blows to complete his half century. However, three wickets fell in quick succession in the last over of the innings bowled by Jamie Overton. He first dismissed Axar Patel attempting a big hit. Arshdeep Singh was runout first ball trying to give the strike to Dube. Then a well-directed bouncer struck the side of Dube’s helmet on the penultimate ball of the innings. Dube was run out attempting a second run of the last ball.
The last over yielded just three runs. India finally managed only 181 runs, well short of 200 which appeared a possibility when Dube and Pandya were going great guns.
Brisk start to England innings
The England openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett began their chase of a 182-run target on a cracking note with nothing in the wicket for the pace bowlers and the spinners. With a flurry of boundaries, and a six, England posted their highest powerplay score of 62 in the series so far, with left-handed Duckett finally holding out to Suryakumar Yadav at cover of Ravi Bishnoi on the last ball of the powerplay. His 19-ball 39 included 7x4s and 1×6.
Phil Salt (23 of 21 balls, 4x4s) too departed next over, clean bowled by Axar Patel. England slid to 67-3 in Ravi Bishnoi’s second over, when captain Jos Buttler in trying a slashing cut held out to substitute Harshit Rana at short point for just 2 of 3 balls.
No. 4 batsman Harry Brook held the innings together, going on to complete his half century in quick time. But wickets kept tumbling at the other end.
On his T20I debut, Harshit Rana tasted first blood on the second ball of his first over with Liam Livingstone (9 of 13 balls) edging a dolly catch to Samson behind the stumps.
Chakravarthy’s two-in-one turning point
Brook took charge thereon and hammered the Indian bowling attack to all parts of the ground and raced to his half-century, before he fell to Varun Chakravarthy trying a lap shot and skying a catch to Arshdeep Singh at widish short fine leg. His 51 of 26 balls was studded with 5x4s and 2x6s). The England total read 129-5.
Chakravarthy made it two in an over when incoming batsman Brydon Carse skied an attempted slog sweep on the second ball he faced straight to Rinku Singh at deep mid-wicket. He was out without scoring.
The No. 6 position is proving to be an Achilles heel for England. Jacob Bethell, who returned to the side, replacing Jamie Smith, after sitting out for the 2nd and 3rd T20Is at Chennai and Rajkot, perished soon after attempting a big hit of Harshit Rana and holding out to Suryakumar Yadav at long-on. He made just 6 of 9 balls.
Lower down, Jamie Overton showed some resistance (19 of 15 balls, 1×4, 1×6). Adil Rashid remained not out on 10 (6 balls, 1×6).
From 129/4 in the 15th over, the visitors were bundled out for 166 in 19.4 overs.
