Synopsis
Pune, Jan 31 (NationPress) Harshit Rana, with a stellar performance of 3-33 on his T20I debut, expressed, "It is still a dream debut for me" as India triumphed over England by 15 runs, clinching the series 3-1 in the fourth T20I at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.Key Takeaways
- Harshit Rana made a significant impact in his debut T20I.
- India secured a 15-run victory against England.
- Rana's figures of 3-33 were crucial in turning the match.
- England's Saqib Mahmood achieved a historic triple-wicket maiden.
- India now leads the series 3-1 with one match remaining.
Pune, Jan 31 (NationPress) Harshit Rana, after delivering a match-winning spell of 3-33 on his debut T20I, remarked, "It is still a dream debut for me" as India secured the series 3-1 with a 15-run victory over England in the fourth T20I held at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Friday night.
Rana’s late entry as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube turned out to be a pivotal moment, as he claimed three wickets for 33 runs, dismantling England’s middle and lower-order just when the visitors appeared to be gaining ground in their chase of 182.
"It is still a dream debut for me. After Dube returned, I was informed after two overs that I would be the concussion substitute. This is not just for this series, as I have been waiting for an opportunity for a long time. I wanted to demonstrate that I belong here. I have performed well in the IPL and was just following the same approach here," Rana stated post-match.
Earlier, India found themselves in early trouble after England’s Saqib Mahmood made history with a triple-wicket maiden, the first-ever in men's T20 internationals. He dismissed Sanju Samson (1), Tilak Varma (0), and Suryakumar Yadav (0) in swift succession, leaving India at 12/3 within two overs. Amidst this early collapse, Hardik Pandya (53) and Shivam Dube (53) rescued India’s innings, forming a crucial 88-run partnership that propelled the hosts to a competitive 181/9.
England’s openers, Phil Salt and Ben Duckett, commenced aggressively, targeting India’s seamers during the Power-play. Duckett was particularly aggressive, sweeping and reverse-sweeping the spinners seamlessly, racing to 39 off just 19 balls. England seemed to be in command at 62/0 in six overs.
However, Ravi Bishnoi’s introduction altered the game’s trajectory. He dismissed Duckett off the last ball of the Power-play, initiating an England collapse. Shortly after, Axar Patel cleaned up Salt (23) with a skidding delivery, and Bishnoi struck again to send England skipper Jos Buttler back for just 2 runs, leaving England at 67/3 in eight overs.
With England losing momentum, Harry Brook took charge, showcasing his confidence against India’s pacers. He reached a fighting fifty off 26 balls, keeping England in contention. But just when England appeared to be regaining control, Varun Chakravarthy delivered a game-changing over, dismissing Brook (51) and Brydon Carse in quick succession. Making his debut under dramatic circumstances, Rana wasted no time making an impact. He struck immediately, getting rid of Liam Livingstone (9) with a sharp bouncer that induced an edge to the keeper.
As the required run rate escalated, England’s lower order faltered. Jacob Bethell (6) misplayed a slower delivery straight to Suryakumar Yadav at long-on, and in the following over, Ravi Bishnoi bowled out Jofra Archer with a stunning leg-break. Rana returned to complete the task, taking down Jamie Overton in his final over, concluding a dream debut with figures of 3/33. Arshdeep Singh then sealed the innings by dismissing Saqib Mahmood, securing India’s 15-run win.
This victory ensured that India clinched the five-match series 3-1, heading into the final T20I at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai with the series already secured.
