Harry Brook and Phil Salt stitched together an unbeaten 151-run partnership to power England to a commanding nine-wicket victory.
Bristol: Captain Harry Brook blasted an unbeaten 79 off just 35 balls, while Phil Salt remained not out on 59 from 42 deliveries as England crushed India by nine wickets with 37 balls to spare in the fourth T20I at the County Ground, Bristol. The emphatic victory sealed the five-match series 3-0, with one match still to play.
Chasing a modest target of 159, England suffered an early setback with the dismissal of Jos Buttler. However, India had no response as Brook and Salt combined for an unbeaten 151-run partnership for the second wicket. Brook led the charge with an array of boundaries and sixes, while Salt provided ideal support as England stormed to 159/1 in just 13.5 overs to register a commanding nine-wicket win.
Earlier, India suffered another batting collapse before captain Shreyas Iyer steadied the innings with a valiant 80 off 49 balls. Arriving at the crease after the early loss of wickets, Iyer almost single-handedly held the innings together, smashing four fours and five sixes. Shivam Dube provided some support with 22, but no other Indian batter managed to make a meaningful contribution as the visitors posted 158/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
England’s bowlers set the tone with disciplined performances throughout the innings. Jofra Archer starred with figures of 2/20, while Josh Tongue also claimed two wickets, ensuring India never built any sustained momentum despite Iyer’s lone resistance.
India’s bowlers failed to defend the below-par total despite dismissing Jos Buttler early. Harry Brook took charge from the outset, dismantling both the pace and spin attacks with an array of aggressive strokes, while Phil Salt played the ideal supporting role to keep the scoreboard moving. The pair’s unbeaten 151-run stand guided England to one of their most commanding chases of the series.
The emphatic victory handed England an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, extending India’s disappointing tour. Once again, India’s batting relied heavily on captain Shreyas Iyer, while the bowling attack struggled to contain England’s aggressive batting lineup. After the opening match was abandoned, England responded by winning the next three games to seal the series with one fixture remaining.
Brief Scores:
India 158/7 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 80*; Shivam Dube 22; Jofra Archer 2/20, Josh Tongue 2/36) lost to England 159/1 in 13.5 overs (Harry Brook 79*, Phil Salt 59*) by nine wickets.
