Historical minimum! India lose a bilateral T20I series for the first time since 2019

Bristol, July 10 (IANS) Captain Harry Brook produced a scintillating 79 not out from just 35 balls as Phil Salt remained unbeaten on 59 from 42 deliveries as England beat India by nine wickets with 37 balls to spare in the fourth T20I at the County Ground in Bristol to clinch the series 3 to 0 by spares. England created history by securing their first ever bilateral T20I series win over India in a two-or-more contest after a commanding nine-wicket win in the fourth T20I at the County Ground in Bristol.The win gave Harry Brook’s side an unbeaten 3-0 lead in the five-match series after the opening match was lost, marking a landmark achievement against one of the strongest T20 sides in the world. The defeat also highlighted India’s recent struggles in the format. It was the first time since February 2019 that India had lost a bilateral T20I series when they lost 2-0 in Ireland earlier this year. The last such instance came when India lost 2-1 in New Zealand before suffering a 2-0 home defeat against Australia in 2019.

Brook and Salt are rewriting the record books

England’s emphatic chase of 159 was fueled by an unbeaten 146-run stand between captain Harry Brook and opener Phil Salt, the fourth-highest partnership against India in T20I history and one of the biggest ever in a successful chase.

Highest partnership against India in T20Is

PartnershipTeamVenueYear174* – Quinton de Kock & David MillerSouth AfricaGuwahati2022170* – Alex Hales & Jos ButtlerEnglandAdelaide (T20 World Cup SF)2022152* – Babar Azam & Mohammad RizwanPakistan202 World Cup1 (T20Dubai)2020146 – Harry Brook and Phil Salt*EnglandBristol2026133 – David Warner & Shane Watson Australia Colombo (T20 World Cup) 2012Brook remained unbeaten on 79 while Salt finished with 59 not out as England chased down the target in just 13.5 overs to win by 37 balls.

One of the biggest chases in England

The clinical chase also entered the English book of records. The win was England’s joint second-biggest victory by wickets remaining in a successful chase of over 150, equaling their nine-wicket triumph over South Africa in 2020 in a 192-wicket chase in Cape Town. England’s only famous 10-wicket win over India in the 2022 T20 World Cup, losing by 69 wickets in the semi-final and 19th in the semi-final higher.Among full members, England’s chase also became the joint-fourth fastest successful chase of over 150 targets in terms of balls remaining.

Most Balls Left in Successful Chases Over 150 (Full Members)

Balls RemainingMatch60India Vs. New Zealand, Guwahati (2026)43 New Zealand Vs. South Africa T20 World Cup 202637West Indies Vs. South Africa, Kingston (2024)37England vs India, Bristol (2026)33England vs Pakistan, Lahore (2022)

Captains lead from the front

The Bristol competition also brought another rare milestone. It was the 37th men’s T20I in which both captains scored more than 50, the 16th involving two full member countries and the first ever between India and England.