Two-time world champions India were handed a harsh reality check as they succumbed to their fifth straight defeat during their tour of Ireland and England. England registered their first-ever T20 series victory over India with a nine-wicket thrashing in Bristol, handing Harry Brook’s team an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series with one more game to go.
India’s batting struggled once again in conditions that were conducive to bowlers. They battled their way to 158-7, which turned out to be woefully inadequate as England chased down the target with 37 balls to spare. Opener Phil Salt and Brook enjoyed an unbroken second-wicket stand of 146 off 70 balls as England reached their target in 13.5 overs. Captain Brook scored 79 from 35 balls, while Salt hit 59 off 42 even though he failed to score off his first nine balls.
India lost both T20s in the preceding tour of Ireland and are now one more defeat away from relinquishing their top ranking in T20s. England will become the top-ranked T20 team if they win the final match of the series on Saturday. All teams will be aiming to preserve their T20 rankings this year, which will serve as the benchmark for qualification to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
With only six continental slots available for the Summer Games, top-ranked men’s teams from four continents - Asia, Oceania, Europe and Africa - by the end of the year will qualify for the Games automatically. Everyone else will have to play in a global qualifier. If India continue to slip this year, Pakistan, currently ranked sixth, will get an opportunity to overtake their arch-rivals in T20 rankings by December.
Also read: 3rd T20: Iyer calls 125-run loss to England ‘atrocious’
Follow us
