India vs England 3rd T20I: Live Updates, Varun Chakravarthy's Magic, and England's Fight for Survival

India vs England 3rd T20I: Live Cricket Updates

The third T20I between India and England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot, has proven to be an action-packed contest. England, trailing 0-2 in the series, put up a spirited fight to stay alive in this crucial match. Here’s how the game has unfolded so far:

England’s Innings: Duckett and Livingstone Shine Amidst Struggles

After being put to bat first, England’s batting lineup struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack, spearheaded by Varun Chakravarthy. The mystery spinner was sensational, picking up five wickets and spinning a web around the English batters. Despite regular fall of wickets, England managed to post 171/9 in their 20 overs.

Ben Duckett anchored the innings with a gritty half-century (51), while Liam Livingstone’s late onslaught helped England reach a competitive total. Livingstone’s power-packed hitting provided the much-needed momentum at the back end of the innings, giving England a fighting chance.

India’s Chase: Wickets Tumble Early

Chasing 172, India faced early setbacks as their top order crumbled under pressure. Within the first 10 overs, India found themselves struggling at 78/4, with stalwarts Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav back in the pavilion.

Tilak Varma, who had been in sublime form throughout the series, was bowled by Adil Rashid for 18, marking his first dismissal in this series. Rashid, along with Jamie Overton, kept things tight and applied constant pressure on the Indian batters.

Washington Sundar Falls as England Tighten the Grip

Jamie Overton’s introduction into the attack further dented India’s hopes. Washington Sundar, trying to accelerate the chase, fell for 6, caught by Buttler. Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel are now at the crease, trying to rebuild the innings. With boundaries drying up and England’s bowlers maintaining discipline, the required run rate continues to climb.

India’s Path Ahead

At 86/5 after 13 overs, India faces an uphill battle to chase down the target of 172. The onus is on Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel to steady the ship and keep India’s hopes alive. The crowd in Rajkot remains optimistic but restless, hoping for a counterattack from the Indian lower order.

England, on the other hand, will look to capitalize on the pressure they’ve created and wrap up the game to keep the series alive.

Stay Tuned

The third T20I promises to be a nail-biter as the game progresses. Can India pull off a comeback, or will England secure a much-needed win? Stay tuned for live updates!