Agencies
England produced a strong bowling performance to beat India by 26 runs in Rajkot and keep the T20I series alive, reports BBC.com.
Having lost the opening two matches of the five-match series, England had to win the third T20 to avoid defeat at the earliest opportunity.
Ben Duckett struck a 28-ball 51 and Liam Livingstone hit fives sixes in his 43 from 21 as England made what appeared to be a below-par 171-9 on a decent surface.
But a superb display from their bowling line-up kept India behind the rate and the home side fell well short of their target as they finished on 145-9.
Having been put into bat, Duckett helped the tourists start positively as they reached 83-1 in the ninth over.
But the innings turned in India’s favour when Buttler was judged caught behind on review for 24, and Duckett holed out to mid-wicket off the bowling of Axar Patel in the following over.
Buttler was the first victim of Varun Chakravarthy, with the leg-spinner bowling superbly to take 5-24 as England lost 8-60.
India lost wickets steadily through their innings, while Jamie Overton, who took 3-24, was the pick of five England bowlers who took wickets.
Hardik Pandya marshalled the second half of India’s innings, but his sluggish 40 from 35 failed to swing the match back in the hosts’ favour.
When he was caught by Buttler at long-on off Overton the match was over at a contest, and England closed out the win to still have a chance of a series victory.
The fourth match of the series is in Pune on Friday.
ScorescColor:> England 171-9 (20 overs): Duckett 51 (28); Chakravarthy 5-24, India 145-9 (20 overs): Pandya 40 (35); Overton 3-24.
England won by 26 runs; India lead five-match series 2-1.
