England down India to keep T20 series alive

England fought back to win the third T20 international against India, which was followed by disciplined bowling and a quickfire 51 from Ben Duckett.

Duckett’s 28-ball knock set up England to make 171-9 despite a collapse triggered by Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who returned figures of 5-24 in Rajkot, India on Tuesday.

England’s bowlers then combined to limit India to 145-9, sealing a 26-run win in a five-match series now only led 2-1 by India.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid impressed with figures of 1-15 from an excellent four-over spell, while England’s fast bowlers struck regularly.

Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse each took two wickets, while Jamie Overton and Brydon Carse each took three.

England’s Jamie Overton celebrates with Phil Salt after taking the wicket of India’s Hardik Pandya, caught by Jos Buttler]Amit Dave/Reuters]

Before being dismissed by Overton when the required run rate increased by more than 20 over, Hardik Pandya stuttered to 40 off 35 deliveries.

Archer struck first with the wicket of Sanju Samson, who was caught at mid-on by Rashid.

Abhishek Sharma, 24, was dismissed by Carse, who had a spectacular catch caught by Archer in a reversed direction midway.

Suryakumar Yadav was backed by Mark Wood, who top-edged a quick, rising delivery into wicketkeeper Phil Salt’s gloves.

As Rashid bowled Tilak Varma and Overton returned Washington Sundar for India, the score was 85-5, but Pandya never seriously threatened to take India over the line.

Cricket - Third T20 International - India v England - Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot, India - January 28, 2025 England's Ben Duckett in action REUTERS/Amit Dave — England’s Ben Duckett top scored in the match]Amit Dave/Reuters]

Earlier, Duckett’s blazing start and then a 24-ball 43 by Liam Livingstone boosted the total and the lower order chipped in after England slipped to 127-8 in 16 overs.

Duckett put on 76 runs with skipper Jos Buttler, who hit 24, after losing his opening partner Salt.

Chakravarthy broke the stand with Buttler’s wicket, a caught-behind dismissal given on review.

Duckett, who struck two sixes and seven fours, reached his 50 in 26 balls but was out in the same over off Axar Patel’s left-arm spin.

In the following over, Chakravarthy struck twice to send Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton back after Ravi Bishnoi bowled Harry Brook for eight.

Cricket - Second T20 International - India v England - M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India - January 25, 2025 India's Varun Chakravarthy celebrates with Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson after taking the wicket of England's Harry Brook REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis — India’s Varun Chakravarthy celebrates with Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson after taking the wicket of England’s Harry Brook]Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters]

Chakravarthy returned in his last over to take two more and register his second five-wicket haul in T20 internationals.

Before he holed out off Pandya, Livingstone slammed into the ground and smashed Bishnoi for three sixes in four balls, but his knock was decisive.

Mohammed Shami, a fast bowler who made his first international appearance since the 2023 ODI World Cup final, overcame three wicketless overs for 25 runs.