
India outplayed England in the fourth T20I of the series by 15 runs to gain a winning lead of 3-1 in the five-match T20I series. Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium hosted this game on Saturday. The visiting skipper Jos Buttler won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first.
While batting first, India managed to post a total of 181 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 20 overs courtesy of half-centuries scored by star all-rounders Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya. While chasing the target, Indian bowlers bundled out Jos Buttler’s men at the score of 166 runs to win the game by 15 runs.
Here are the three reasons behind England’s defeat in the penultimate fixture of the five-match T20I series:
Jofra Archer’s inability to take wickets
England highly relied on their star pacer Jofra Archer to neutralize the Indian batting attack. But Archer failed to live up to his team’s expectations and couldn’t get even a single wicket throughout the entire game. He conceded 4 fours and two sixes.
The star pacer went on to concede 37 runs in his four overs, with an expensive economy rate of 9.25, including a wide-ball and no-ball. It happened to be one of the prime reasons behind England’s debacle against India in the fourth T20I.
Poor fielding in the first innings
After strangulating India with scalping their 5 wickets at 79 runs in 10.4 overs, England were looking quite dominating in the first innings. But unfortunately, the pair of Indian all-rounders, Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya. The duo stitched a partnership of 87 runs for the seventh wicket.
One primary concern behind the Dube-Pandya partnership was the poor approach from the England fielders. They missed a lot of chances which could’ve helped them restrict India to a lower total. But they couldn’t capitalize on the chances which happened to cost them the match.
Middle Order collapse during run-chase
With Harry Brook’s swashbuckling half-century, 53 runs off just 26 balls, England were looking quite comfortable in their run-chase, scoring 129 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 14.2 overs. But then came the dismissal of Harry Brook, taking England’s score to 129 runs for the loss of 5 wickets.
Including Harry Brook’s dismissal, England lost their next four wickets within just 17 runs and they were now 8-wicket down at the score of 146 runs. This drastic collapse of England’s middle order and lower-middle order played a turning role in England’s fate and the result of the game.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.