India’s hope of staging a comeback in the fourth T20I at the County Ground in Bristol evaporated as another insipid batting display paved the way for a crushing nine-wicket defeat, handing England a 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
With their backs against the wall after successive defeats, the visitors needed a collective response. Instead, the batting unit faltered once again, with captain Shreyas Iyer standing as the lone bright spot. His unbeaten 80 off 49 deliveries rescued the visitors from a far more precarious position, but the lack of support from the rest of the line-up meant India could only muster a modest 158 runs in the first innings.
That total was never likely to seriously test England on a good batting surface. Opener Phil Salt and skipper Harry Brook dismantled India’s below-par bowling attack with an exhibition of clean, aggressive strokeplay, ensuring the chase remained a one-sided affair from the outset. The pair dominated proceedings before England sealed victory with 37 balls to spare. It underlines the gulf between the two sides on the day and how far India have fallen in the shortest format of the game.ย
More to follow..