England produced a commanding performance to defeat India by nine wickets in the fourth T20 International at the County Ground in Bristol, sealing an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The victory also marked England’s first-ever bilateral T20I series win over India.
After being asked to bat, India struggled to build partnerships and finished on 158/7 in their 20 overs. Captain Shreyas Iyer stood out with a fighting unbeaten 80, but received little support from the rest of the batting line-up. England’s pace attack, led by Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue, kept India’s scoring under control throughout the innings.
In reply, England made light work of the chase. Harry Brook smashed an unbeaten 79 off 35 balls, while Phil Salt remained unbeaten on 59, as the pair shared a match-winning partnership. England reached the target in just 13.5 overs, finishing the contest with 37 balls to spare.
The result has intensified scrutiny of India’s recent T20 performances, with questions being raised about the team’s batting consistency and overall balance. England, meanwhile, continued their impressive run under captain Harry Brook, showcasing aggressive batting and disciplined bowling throughout the series.
With one match still to be played in Southampton, England will aim for a clean sweep, while India will look to salvage some pride by ending the series on a positive note
