Harry Brook 79, Phil Salt 59 thrash India as England seal T20I series with nine-wicket win over India in Bristol | Cricket news
England produced dazzling batting style to thrash India by nine wickets in the fourth T20I at the County Ground, Bristol, wrapping up the five-match series with an unassailable 3-0 lead. Chasing 159, the hosts came home in just 13.5 overs, thanks to a thrilling unbeaten partnership between captain Harry Brook and opener Phil Salt. The emphatic victory also ended a long wait for England, who won their first-ever T20I bilateral series of two or more matches against India.
Shreyas Iyer’s only fight saves India
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, India once again suffered a familiar top-order collapse against England’s relentless attack. Teen opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi fell for 15 after a promising start, while Ishan Kishan (4) and Abhishek Sharma (16) failed to convert their starts as Jofra Archer and company reduced the visitors to 48/3 inside the opening seven.As wickets tumbled around him, captain Shreyas Iyer stood tall with a brilliant unbeaten 80 off 49 balls, creating yet another saving feat for his side. The right-hander mixed composure with aggression, smashing four boundaries and five sixes while showing particular admiration for veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid. Iyer scored 44 runs off just 16 balls against Rashid, registering the third-most runs scored by an Indian batsman against a single bowler in a T20I innings, as he took India to 158/7.But England’s bowlers remained disciplined throughout. Jofra Archer finished with impressive figures of 2/20, while Josh Tong scored 2/36.
Brooke, Salt blow India away
India’s 158 defense started on a positive note when Arshdeep Singh dismissed Jos Buttler (8) early, briefly raising hopes of a competitive contest. Those hopes quickly faded.Skipper Harry Brook unleashed a stunning onslaught on the Indian attack, showcasing his full batting repertoire. Constantly moving across the crease, manipulating the pitch and punishing anything loose, Brook dismantled the Indian bowling with remarkable ease.The England captain raced to 21 balls for his half-century before finishing unbeaten with 79 off just 24 deliveries, an innings filled with audacious shots that left India with no answers.At the other end, Phil Salt played the perfect supporting role, remaining unbeaten on 59 as the duo mounted an unbroken 151-run stand after the early wicket. Their relentless counter-attack ensured England chased down the target in just 13.5 overs, winning by 37 balls.
The victory of the historical series
England’s comprehensive victory secured their first win in a bilateral T20I series over India in a contest involving more than two matches. Prior to this series, India had won five of the previous six T20I series against England, while finishing level one. The defeat also continued India’s recent struggles in this format. This was the team’s second successive loss in a bilateral T20I series under captain Shreyas Iyer, after the previous defeat in Ireland.The result also ended India’s impressive record in bilateral T20Is, having won 11 of the previous 12 series, with the only exception being a 1-1 draw in South Africa in December 2023. England will now head into the fifth and final T20I looking to complete the sweep of the series, while India will be aiming to rescue the Pride after being comprehensively outclassed in Bristol.
Summary scores
India: 158/7 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 80* off 49, Shivam Dubey 22, Jofra Archer 2/20, Josh Tong 2/36)England: 159/1 in 13.5 overs (Harry Brook 79* off 24, Phil Salt 59*; Arshdeep Singh 1/26)a result: England won by 9 wickets (with 37 balls remaining) and clinched the five-match T20I series 3-0.
