England produced a solid all-round performance to crush India by nine wickets in the fourth T20I at the County Ground in Bristol, sealing an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series with one match left to play.
As captain Harry Brook took the lead with a sublime 79 in 35 balls to lead the way and Phil Salt remained not out on 59 from 42 deliveries as England got to 159 in just 13.5 overs. The victory also underlined England’s dominance in the series and showed India’s troubles just months after their World Cup victory.
Brook and Salt Make Light Work of the Chase
England's chase began with a little disappointment for England’s tinderal dismissal of Jos Buttler in the third over when Jos Buttler was caught by Arshdeep Singh in the third over. That was India's only success in the innings.
Brook and Salt took complete control thereafter and put together an unbeaten partnership that dismantled India’s bowling attack with aggressive stroke play and intelligent running between the wickets.
Brook was at his destructive best and struck eight fours and four sixes during his whirlwind knock. England skipper attacked from the outset, refusing to allow the Indian bowlers to settle.
At the other end, Salt played the perfect supporting role. His innings contained nine boundaries and one six, and England never lost momentum as the pair completed the chase with more than six overs to spare.
The victory was indicative of England’s fearless batting style and why England has been the better team in the series.
Shreyas Iyer's Lone Battle Goes in Vain
India had struggled to create partnerships earlier after being asked to bat first.
Shreyas Iyer stood tall against regular wickets, producing a superb unbeaten 80 off 49 balls. It was his second half-century as captain of India's T20I side and included five sixes and four fours.
Iyer appeared comfortable on a lively Bristol surface with pace and bounce while the rest of the batting order did not. He was the anchor of the innings and India finished 158/7, a total that always appeared below par given the conditions.
Unfortunately for India, no other batter was able to provide sustained support, leaving Iyer with too much to do.
India's Worrying Slide Continues
Such a defeat is a fresh worry to the reigning T20 World Cup champions.
Since winning the trophy in Ahmedabad earlier this year, India has suffered a dramatic dip in form. They lost a 0-2 series to Ireland and now England have completely dominated them to win the current series.
For new captain Shreyas Iyer, the numbers make for hard reading. Since succeeding Suryakumar Yadav as captain of India's T20I team after the World Cup win, Iyer has tasted five defeats in his first six matches as captain, but a first victory is still not a record.
His individual batting has been encouraging but India's bowling attack has struggled to contain opposition batters, and the team has repeatedly failed to defend competitive totals.
England Finish the Job Early
England has looked sharper in all departments of the game. Their batting is explosive, their bowlers disciplined, and their fielding has been fantastic all the way through the series.
Brook’s leadership has also been praised; the captain has made tactical choices and also made the ultimate impact on the game with his match-winning performances at the top.
With the series already won, England will now attempt to complete an even more emphatic victory in the fifth and final T20I at Southampton on Saturday.
For India, the final game is the last opportunity to regain some pride and end a disappointing tour on a good note before attention turns to the problems that have emerged since their World Cup success.
