The eagerly anticipated 3rd and deciding T20I between India and England turned out be an anti-climax. Even though the final margin was pretty comprehensive, England were in the hunt till the 10th over of their batting effort. They inexplicably capitulated to some fine bowling from Yuzvendra Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah and India won by a mammoth margin of 75 runs. Here is the complete match report.

Eoin Morgan won the toss for the 3rd time in succession and elected to field. India got off to the worst possible start when Kohli was run out for 2. However, the pitch was much better for batting then those on display in the previous 2 T20Is. Suresh Raina showed why he is such a valuable player for India in the shorter formats by going after the bowling from the word go. Initially, KL Rahul was content to play second fiddle but even he got into the act with an enormous six of Moeen Ali.

Dhoni was promoted to the number 4 position at the fall of Rahul’s wicket and he did not disappoint his legion of fans by registering his first fifty in T20Is. While Dhoni and Raina were batting, India looked like reaching a total around the 180 mark which would have been a competitive score. However, Yuvraj Singh proved the adage that form is temporary and class is permanent with a breath taking assault on Chris Jordan. He struck 3 sixes and a four to propel India close to the 200 mark. He was dismissed for 27 when he failed to pick a slower ball from Tymal Mills and Buttler took an easy catch behind the stumps. Hardik Pandya scored 11 runs off just 4 deliveries before he selflessly sacrificed his wicket off the last ball of the innings. India finished with a score of 202/6 off their 20 overs. Their innings contained 11 fours and 12 sixes.

Ashish Nehra got India off to a great start with the ball by bowling a maiden in the very first over. However, Jason Roy and Joe Root took advantage of the fielding restrictions in the power play by finding the fence with regularity. Mishra was brought on at the end of the power play and he struck with his 2nd delivery when Roy tried to slog sweep a flighted delivery and Dhoni took a simple catch. After 10 overs, England were 92/2 and needed 111 runs off the last 10 overs. Eoin Morgan got England’s chase back on track by striking Raina for 3 sixes in the 11th over.

England needed 86 runs off the last 7 overs when Chahal weaved his magic. He got the wickets of Morgan and Root off consecutive deliveries to break the back of England batting.Chahal showed his full repertoire of deliveries by bowling the leg break, googly and the flipper and the English batsmen struggled to pick him. Jos Buttler tried to pull a short delivery from Bumrah, but only got a top edge and Kohli took a well-judged catch running in from mid-off. After that there was a steady procession of wickets and India won in a canter. Chahal took 6 wickets for 25 runs off his 4 overs. England lost their last 8 wickets for just 8 runs off 3.1 overs. Bumrah showed why he is India’s best bowler at the death by picking up 3 wickets to provide good support to Chahal. He conceded just 14 runs of 2.3 overs. Hardik Pandya conceded 17 runs off his 2 overs.

England would be disappointed by their final margin of defeat, after being in a good position at the end of the 10thover. Chahal was named the Man of the Match for his bowling effort. He was also named the Man of the Series for picking up 8 wickets in the 3 match series.