India Clinches 5th Consecutive T20 Series Against England: Hardik, Dube Shine as Bowlers Seal the Win
India continued its dominance in T20 cricket by securing its fifth consecutive T20 series victory over England, winning the fourth T20 match in Pune by 15 runs. With this win, India extended its unbeaten home series streak to 17.
Key contributions came from Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, who scored 53 runs each, while Harshit Rana (substituted for concussion) and the spinners collectively took 9 wickets, turning the game in India’s favor.
Match Summary: India Seals the Series
- Venue: MCA Stadium, Pune
- Toss: England won and opted to bowl first.
- India’s Score: 181/9 in 20 overs
- England’s Response: All out for 166 in 19.4 overs
- Result: India won by 15 runs and took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series.
- Next Match: 5th and final T20 on February 15 in Mumbai.
Key Match Highlights
1. Player of the Match: Shivam Dube
Shivam Dube was awarded Player of the Match for his crucial 53-run knock in 34 balls. India had lost four wickets for just 57 runs when he walked in.
- Played a match-defining partnership of 87 runs with Hardik Pandya.
- Smashed two sixes off Adil Rashid, stabilizing the innings.
- Was unable to field due to a head injury, leading to Harshit Rana’s inclusion as a concussion substitute.
2. Match-Winning Performances
Harshit Rana (3 wickets, 33 runs conceded)
- Came in as a concussion substitute and made an immediate impact.
- Dismissed Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, and Jamie Overton at crucial junctures.
- His tight spell tilted the match in India’s favor.
Ravi Bishnoi (3 wickets)
- Gave India its first breakthrough by dismissing Ben Duckett.
- Later sent Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer back, dismantling England’s middle order.
Hardik Pandya (53 runs in 30 balls)
- Stepped up when India was struggling at 79/5.
- Played a crucial role in accelerating the innings beyond 180.
3. England’s Key Players
Despite the loss, two England players stood out:
- Saqib Mahmood: Took 3 wickets in his opening over, dismissing Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav.
- Harry Brook: Scored a quickfire 50 off 25 balls, but his dismissal led to England’s collapse.
4. Turning Point: Harshit Rana’s Game-Changing Spell
- Introduced in the 12th over, dismissed Livingstone on just his second ball.
- Took two more crucial wickets in the 16th and 19th overs, sealing India’s victory.
Match Analysis in 5 Key Points
1. India Overcomes a Poor Start to Post a Competitive Total
- Lost three wickets for just 12 runs at the start.
- Rinku Singh (30) and Abhishek Sharma (29) provided resistance.
- Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube rescued the innings with a 87-run stand.
- Final score: 181/9 in 20 overs.
2. England’s Batting Collapse After a Strong Start
- Scored 62/1 in the powerplay, looking on course for the chase.
- Lost wickets regularly after 6th over, going from 67/1 to 166 all out.
- Lost last 6 wickets for just 37 runs.
3. India’s Spin Attack Seals the Win
- Ravi Bishnoi (3 wickets), Varun Chakravarthy (2 wickets), Axar Patel (1 wicket) applied pressure.
- England’s batters struggled against India’s spin variations.
4. India’s Unbeaten Streak at Home Continues
- 17 consecutive T20I series wins at home.
- England hasn’t won a T20 series against India since 2014.
5. Series Standing and Next Match
- India leads the series 3-1.
- The final T20 match will be played in Mumbai on February 15.
