Despite Suryakumar Yadav’s 360-degree masterclass on his way to a special hundred, England defeated India by 17 runs in the third T20 International on Sunday.
Dawid Malan scored a magnificent 77 off 39 balls as England destroyed India’s backup attack to declare at a whopping 215 for 7.
While chasing the enormous target, Surykumar (117 off 55 balls) kept India in the game with a masterful performance, but other batters failed to provide support. India’s innings was over after 20 overs at 198 for 9.
India won in Southampton and Birmingham to win the three-game series 2-1.
India struggled to 31 for three in five overs at the beginning of the run chase.
It was another failure for Virat Kohli (11), who was caught at cover while attempting to manufacture a third consecutive hit after collecting a four and a straight six off David Willey. Opening batsmen Rohit Sharma (11) and Rishabh Pant (1) perished cheaply.
With a 119-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer (28 off 23), who primarily watched his partner’s brilliance, Suryakumar helped India get back into the game.
Suryakumar played with the opposing bowlers and picked his shots all over the field, as he frequently does.
The two lofted square drives off pacers Richard Gleeson and Chrish Jordan that went all the way for six were the highlights of his magnificent innings.
By opening the face of his bat and guiding a low full toss from Willey between backward point and short third man, he became the fifth Indian to score a hundred in T20 Internationals.
He hit 14 fours and six sixes in his innings.
Before running out of partners at the other end, Suryakumar reduced the equation on his own to 66 off 30 balls, a score that could be achieved.
Earlier, England reached 52 for one in six overs thanks to the captain Jos Buttler (18 off 9 balls) and Jason Roy (27 off 26). After that, Malan and Liam Livingstone (42 not out off 29) enjoyed a fun 84-run partnership that laid the groundwork for a huge total.
India rested their star all-arounder Hardik Pandya as well as their frontline bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Yuzvendra Chahal because they had already won the series.
The England batting lineup, which had underwhelmed in the first two games, completely destroyed the Indian next generation. A lackluster bowling performance was saved only by Ravi Bishnoi’s effort of two for 30 in four overs.
During his brief appearance, Buttler took advantage of the inexperienced Umran Malik, collecting two fours and a six off the Indian’s opening over, which resulted in 17 runs.
With a slower ball that he played on to the stumps, Avesh Khan misled Buttler.
Malan changed gears and played the proper cricketing shots for which he is renowned after Roy was caught behind by Malik.
He swiftly pulled and cut against the pacers and easily swept the spinners for maximums.
Malan’s slog sweep off Ravindra Jadeja over square leg and pick up shot off a low full toss from Avesh stood out among the five sixes.
Livingstone, as he frequently does, dealt in sixes as he hit four of them and helped propel England past 200 along with Chris Jordan (11 off 3), Harry Brook, and others.
Livingstone was given a life when Virat Kohli dropped him in the deep.
129 runs were scored by England in the final 10 overs.
For India, Malik gave up the most runs, finishing with figures of 1 for 56 in 4 overs.
