Harry Brook 79, Phil Salt 59 crush India as England seal T20I series with nine-wicket win over India in Bristol

England captain Harry Brook (ANI Photo) England produced a batting masterclass to beat India by nine wickets in the fourth T20I at the County Ground in Bristol, wrapping up the five-match series with an unassailable 3-0 lead. At 159, the hosts raced home in just 13.5 overs, thanks to a sensational unbeaten partnership between skipper Harry Brooke and opener Phil Salt. The emphatic win also ended a long wait for England to win their first ever bilateral T20I series of two or more matches against India.

Shreyas Iyer’s lone fight saves India

After winning the toss and electing to bat, India again suffered a familiar top-order collapse against England’s relentless attack. Teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi fell for 15 after a promising start, while Ishan Kishan (4) and Abhishek Sharma (16) failed to convert their starts as Jofra Archer and co reduced the visitors to 48/3 in the opening seven overs.With the wickets around him, skipper Shreyas Iyer bounced upright with a superb unbeaten 80 off 49 balls to produce another rescue act for his side. The right-hander mixed poise with aggression, smashing four boundaries and five sixes, taking a particular liking to veteran Adil Rashid. Iyer smashed 44 runs off just 16 balls against Rashid to score the third most runs by an Indian batsman against a single bowler in a T20I innings as he guided India to 158/7.However, the English bowlers remained disciplined throughout. Jofra Archer finished with excellent figures of 2/20 while Josh Tongue chipped in with 2/36.

Brook, salt will blow India away

India’s defense of 158 got off to a positive start when Arshdeep Singh dismissed Jose Buttler (8) early, briefly raising hopes of a competitive contest. Those hopes quickly faded.Captain Harry Brook unleashed a breathtaking onslaught on the Indian attack and showcased his full range of strokes. Brook kept shuffling across the crease, manipulating the pitch and punishing anything that came loose, dismantling the Indian bowling with remarkable ease.The England skipper raced to a 21-ball half-century before finishing unbeaten on 79 from just 24 deliveries, an innings full of unthreatened strokes that left India with no reply.Phil Salt played a perfect supporting role at the other end, remaining unbeaten on 59 as the pair stitched an unbroken 151-run stand after an early wicket. Their ruthless counter-attack ensured England chased down the target in just 13.5 overs as they won by 37 balls.

Historic series triumph

England’s comprehensive victory secured their first bilateral T20I series victory over India in a contest spanning more than two matches. Prior to this series, India had won five of the previous six bilateral T20I series against England, with one level ended. The defeat also continued India’s recent struggles in the format. This marked the second consecutive bilateral T20I series loss under captain Shreyas Iyer after the earlier defeat in Ireland.The result also ended India’s impressive record in bilateral T20Is, having won 11 of their previous 12 series, with the only exception being a 1-1 draw in South Africa in December 2023. England will now head into the fifth and final T20I to complete the series, while India will look to salvage their pride after being comprehensively beaten in Bristol.

A brief score

India: 158/7 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 80* off 49, Shivam Dube 22; Jofra Archer 2/20, Josh Tongue 2/36)England: 159/1 in 13.5 overs (Harry Brook 79* off 24, Phil Salt 59*; Arshdeep Singh 1/26)Result: England won by 9 wickets (with 37 balls remaining) to clinch the five-match T20I series 3–0.