AHMEDABAD (India): Hosts India fought back to beat England by eight wickets and level the five-match T20 series 2-2 on Thursday.
Suryakumar Yadav hit 57 and India’s bowlers stifled England’s batters in a tense finale in the fourth match.
Shardul Thakur claimed three while Hardik Pandya and Rahul Chahar took two each as India kept England to 177-8 in their chase of 186.
“With the ball we were quite clinical. Shardul turned it around but our powerplay start kept England in check and under pressure,” said India skipper Virat Kohli.
With the pressure to score mounting, Ben Stokes hit a defiant 46 off 23 deliveries before falling to Thakur as the series witnessed its first unsuccessful run chase.
Jofra Archer led a final run blitz and England needed 23 from the final over. Archer gave India a scare by hitting a six and a four, then there were two wides and Archer’s bat broke going for a big hit as the visitors fell short.
Eoin Morgan said that India deserved their win in the match where dew made bowling difficult.
“They controlled large parts of the game,” said the England captain.
Jason Roy hit a quick fire 40 before England hit trouble at 66-3 but Stokes raised England’s hopes with a 65-run fourth-wicket stand with Jonny Bairstow, who made 25.
