New Delhi: Suryakumar Yadav’s heroic century went in vain as India succumbed to a 17-run defeat to England in the third and final T20I of the series here at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Sunday. The inning was a disappointing one for India. They lost their top order within a very short time. A huge 119-run partnership followed between centurion Suryakumar Yadav (117*) and Shreyas Iyer (28) followed and gave India a chance in the match. But English pulled back the game in their favour by taking wickets at crucial stages and denied Men in Blue a clean sweep.
India has won the series 2-1. Chasing 216, India was off a terrible start, losing Rishabh Pant for just one in the second over. Medium-pacer Reece Topley sent him back to the pavilion after wicketkeeper and skipper Jos Buttler caught Pant from behind. This brought Virat Kohli to the crease. He looked good, smashing David Willey for a four and a six in the third over. But he was dismissed for just 13 in that over while attempting to slap a wide-length ball. The ball landed safely in the hands of Jason Roy.
Suryakumar Yadav was up next on the crease. Rohit-Suryakumar tried to build a partnership by hitting some good shots and maintaining a solid running between the wickets, but it was cut short at 18-runs after Topley dismissed Rohit for 11 with assistance from the safe hands of Phil Salt. India was in crisis, with its top order back in the hut within a space of 31 runs.
Shreyas Iyer was next on the crease. At the end of six overs, India stood at 34/3, with Suryakumar Yadav (8*) and Shreyas Iyer (1*). Suryakumar Yadav kept going, producing some fine shots. He punished Liam Livingstone’s spin heavily in the ninth over, hitting him for three beautifully placed fours. The duo brought up their 50-run stand in just 29 balls.
At the end of 10 overs, India stood at 82/3, with Suryakumar Yadav (41*) and Shreyas Iyer (14*). The duo kept piling up runs, with Yadav reaching his fifth T20I half-century in 32 balls. The scoreboard kept ticking as the 100-run mark was touched in 12.1 overs, thanks to a six by Yadav on a Liam Livingstone delivery. Yadav became extremely aggressive after reaching his fifty, hitting Livingstone for two more sixes in the same over. The over gave away a total of 21 runs.
Iyer-Yadav kept scoring runs, with the latter being the aggressor and Iyer being the anchor. The duo formed a 100-run stand in just 54 balls. At the end of 15 overs, with Suryakumar Yadav (93*) and Shreyas Iyer (28*). India needed 67 more in the final five overs. The game had swung into India’s favour. Topley gave his side the key wicket of Iyer for 28 runs after he was caught behind by wicketkeeper Buttler. The 119-run stand between Iyer-Yadav had come to an end, with Topley getting his third wicket in the match.
Dinesh Karthik was next up on the crease. The equation was down to 61 runs of 24 balls. Yadav brought up his maiden T20I ton off just 48 balls, consisting of 12 fours and five sixes. India’s bid to chase down 217 runs received a huge jolt after Karthik was trapped leg before wicket by Willey for 6, sinking India to 166/5.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was next up on the crease. His brief stint at the crease ended at seven runs after being trapped lbw by Richard Gleeson. Harshal Patel was next up on the crease. The equation was down to 42 in two overs. Yadav kept India in the hunt, smashing two fours and a six in the 19th over bowled by spinner Moeen Ali. Ali had the last laugh though, sending back Yadav for 117 off 54 balls after being caught by Salt at long-off. India needed 21 runs in the final over. Men in Blue finished at 198/9 in 20 overs, with Avesh Khan (1*), they lost the match by 17 runs. Harshal Patel was bowled in the final ball of the match by Chris Jordan.