India needed crafty knocks from Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube to win the fourth T20 and with it, the series between India and England at Pune. India displayed why their credentials as the best T20 side stood firm tonight. England fell short by 15 runs in the end, with Harry Brook’s half ton going in vain. With the series’ outcome decided, the teams now move to Mumbai for the fifth and final T20i.
The English skipper, Jos Buttler won the toss on the third time of offering and put India in to bat. Samson’s struggles against extra pace were further highlighted as he fell for a duck. India were caught in a right pickle as Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav both returned to the pavilion soon with zeros attached next to them. Reeling at 12 for 3, Rinku Singh and Abhishek Sharma stitched a much need partnership to calm the nervous yet raucous Pune crowd.
The real stars of the innings were Dube and Pandya, who both notched up fifties. Dube, who was playing his first game of the series was handed a lifeline on a duck as he was dropped off Adil Rashid. Pandya and Dube put on a partnership of 87 runs in just 45 balls. Cosplaying as India’s saviors, they powered the side to a challenging total of 181, which on a plucky wicket like Pune’s was always going to be tough for England.
England’s openers disregarded that fact as both Salt and Duckett looked on song at the start. Duckett fell on the last ball of the powerplay having put on 62 with Salt. It was a repeat of the earlier T20is as in came the Indian spinners who slowed the game. Salt and Captain Fantastic Buttler both followed suit and were out in quick succession. Brook and Livingstone offered a bit of resistance to the Indian bowling. Brook even got his first 50 of the tour, a knock which really did justice to a player of his caliber.
Dube, who had suffered a concussion in the back end of the Indian innings, was substituted by Harshit Rana who brought the game back to India with his nasty and hostile pace. On a gritty pitch, where cutters would be the most affective, Rana bowled especially well to dismantle England. Ravi Bishnoi had neat spell as well, picking up 3 wickets and giving away just 28 runs in his allotted 4 overs. A nice way for the leggie to return to form, as his bowling looked a bit wayward in the previous T20is.
In the end, England were defeated by a better side overall. The Ranchi game now seems like a blip from the Indians. There are not many positives for the visitors to take away from this series but at least it should provide a clearer picture on where the side stands. The sides will now play a dead rubber in Mumbai on Sunday before the much awaited ODIs begin. The final T20i should give a chance for both the teams to experiment with the team selection.