India wrap up series victory against England with a game to spare after edging fourth T20 in final over
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Updated 31/01/2025 at 18:01 GMT
India took England out for 166 in the fourth Twenty20 international on Friday, as the tourists chased 182 in an attempt to force a decider on Sunday. Some excellent work with the ball earned India the series with one T20 to spare. Three wickets in three overs to dismiss Ben Duckett, Phil Salt and Jos Buttler ultimately ended England's chances of levelling the series.
India celebrate
Image credit: Getty Images
India beat England by 15 runs to win the fourth T20I and the series, as the tourists let strong positions slip in both innings.
A controversial concussion substitution also did not help their cause, as batting all-rounder Shivam Dube was replaced by out-and-out bowler Harshit Rana at the innings break.
Dube had scored 53 runs and Rana went on to take three wickets.
England, bowling first for the first time all series, had India in real trouble at 12-3 and 79-5, but allowed them to escape and post a competitive total of 181.
Saqib Mahmood bowled a triple-wicket maiden in his first over of the tour to launch England's superb start, but his subsequent overs went at an economy rate of more than 11, typifying how the tide turned.
Dube and Hardik Pandya topped the scoring with 53 runs each and shared an 87-run sixth-wicket partnership.
Pandya's knock in particular – off 30 balls, with four fours and four sixes – changed the mood of the match.
Ben Duckett and Phil Salt got England off to something of a flyer in response, scoring 62 in the powerplay, but Duckett fell off the final delivery.
Wickets flowed at short intervals thereafter and only a spirited 51 from Harry Brook gave England any real hope.
Jamie Overton and Adil Rashid got the target down to 25 needed from the last two overs, but the former's decision to turn down singles made the task harder, and it was almost impossible by the time he played onto his own stumps to conclude the penultimate over.
That Rana claimed three wickets and caught Buttler added controversy to England's defeat, but many of their dismissals were self-inflicted through shot selection.
One game remains in the five-match T20 series, which India lead 3-1.
Talking Point - Was India's concussion substitution fair?
It certainly was not like-for-like.
Rana has scored just two runs in 25 IPL games, while Dube has bowled in only 14 of his 65 IPL games. They're not similar players.
There are questions to answer for the law-makers because what India got in effect was an impact sub, as exists in the IPL.
Meanwhile, all other teams got a clear demonstration of how concussion subs could be manipulated. And that's aside from the question of Dube being allowed to finish the India innings after taking the blow to the head.
Player of the Match - Hardik Pandya (India)
It was Pandya, more than Dube, who wrestled momentum back in India's favour. His big hitting allowed Dube the time needed to play his way in, as well as helping India to a score which allowed their spinners to attack.
Key Stats
- Mahmood's three-wicket maiden is the first in men's T20I cricket.
- This was Buttler's 50th T20I as England captain.
- India have won 17 T20I series in a row at home.
- This was Rana's T20I debut.
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