England v India: England win third T20 despite Suryakumar Yadav’s hundred
England held on for a consolation victory in the third Twenty20 against India despite Suryakumar Yadav’s sensational century at Trent Bridge.
Chasing 216, the tourists were 31-3 after five overs before Suryakumar’s 48-ball ton – his first for India – gave them real hope.
He dominated a partnership of 119 with Shreyas Iyer, hitting 14 fours and six sixes in an incredible display of flamboyant shots.
After wickets tumbled at the other end, Suryakumar launched an assault at the start of the penultimate over with 41 runs needed.
The first four balls yielded 16 runs but the 31-year-old mistimed his stroke looking to clear the ropes again and was caught at long-off for 117 off Moeen Ali.
Chris Jordan closed out the final over as India ended on 198-9, England winning by 17 runs and responding to heavy defeats in the first two matches.
Dawid Malan had earlier top scored with 77 from 39 balls in their 215-7.
India take the series 2-1 with the sides’ attention turning to a three-match one-day international series, which starts on Tuesday at The Oval.
‘SKY’ gives England huge scare
England needed this win after their disappointing performances in the first two games. With India needing 185 from 15 overs and Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant back in the dressing room, the hosts looked comfortable.
What followed was anything but – Suryakumar playing one of the great innings in a losing cause.
The right-hander, often referred to by his nickname SKY, wristily took down both spin and seam. Two drives where he opened the bat face and cleared the off-side for six defied belief.
He also swept Jordan off his stumps as he took advantage of the short Trent Bridge boundaries.
The first crucial moment came at the start of the 16th over when, with 66 needed from 30, the impressive Reece Topley had Iyer caught behind for 28.
That halted India’s momentum and the wickets of Dinesh Karthik and Ravindra Jadeja, both lbw to David Willey and Richard Gleeson respectively, left the match on Suryakumar’s shoulders.
Moeen began the 19th over with a wide before Suryakumar cut him for four, smashed a six over long-on and hammered another cut to the fence.
India’s support was raucous but when Moeen tossed the ball up again, Suryakumar was caught after miscuing off the toe of his bat. He departed with the second-highest T20 score for India and the second-best individual total against England.
Jordan was left with 20 to defend against the tail and he did so expertly, taking wickets with two pinpoint yorkers.
England won but were given an almighty fright.
‘One of the best hundreds’ – reaction
England captain Jos Buttler: “It was good fun, a fantastic game of cricket and much more like what we’re used to seeing from our side so I was really pleased, especially with the response with the bat.
“It was some innings from Suryakumar Yadav. It was one of the best hundreds that I’ve seen and he put us under a lot of pressure.
“I was pleased to see Richard Gleeson back it up with another performance and Chris Jordan has been excellent all series.”
India captain Rohit Sharma: “It was a fantastic chase and we are proud of our fight.
“Suryakumar Yadav was magnificent to watch. I have been watching him for a while and he loves this format, he is unorthodox and has a wide range of shots. He never lets the tempo go. He has grown as player and is going from strength to strength.”
Player of the match, England bowler Reece Topley: “I’m pretty to surprised to have won this – there were some great knocks today.
“Suryakumar Yadav’s knock left me speechless. I was in awe.”
