IND vs ENG: Buttler stars in England win, Kohli's fifty in vain
Buttler scored an unbeaten 83 off 52 balls (5x4s, 4x6s) to take England home in the 19th over.
Published : Mar 16, 2021 22:37 IST
A whirlwind unbeaten 52-ball 83 from Jos Buttler guided England past India by eight wickets in the third T20 here on Tuesday. Chasing 157, Buttler’s blitz at the top of the order took England over the finish line with 10 deliveries to spare. The visitor grabbed a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Buttler assumed control after Jason Roy was dismissed cheaply in the fourth over. Buttler was severe on legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who bowled in the PowerPlay instead of Washington Sundar. Chahal, slow through the air, was carted by Buttler for two straight sixes.
AS IT HAPPENED Buttler’s offensive powered England to 57 for one in the first six overs, taking the air out the Indians. Sundar gave his side some hope when he had Dawid Malan stumped for 18, with a flat, 102-kmph fizzer. Next man Jonny Bairstow, however, kept Buttler safe company to finish with an unbeaten 40. Buttler recorded his highest ever T20I score, going past his previous best of 77 not-out made against Australia last year. The Indian fielding was shoddy, with Kohli dropping Buttler on 76 and Chahal giving Bairstow a life two overs later. After being put in, it took some late fireworks from Virat Kohli (77 n.o., 46b, 8x4, 4x6) to push India to a respectable total. The England bowlers were brilliant for the most part, but succumbed to pressure in the death. Pacers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood were particularly impressive, generating great pace and steep bounce. Wood got opener K.L. Rahul with a peach, the ball cutting in late to hit the stumps. Rahul, who now has scores of 0, 0 and 1 in this series, was squared up and cut an embarrassing picture.