Adil Rashid’s superb spell spins England to victory in third T20 against India
Adil Rashid’s superb spell spins England to victory in third T20 against India
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England may want to blow away sides with pace but the slow stuff matters, too. Adil Rashid was masterful in Rajkot, the leg-spinner delivering the key wicket of Tilak Varma, conceding no boundaries and securing his side’s first victory of this tour. India failed to chase down 172, their series lead now standing at 2-1 with two T20 internationals still to play.
![[India’s Tilak Varma is bowled by England’s Adil Rashid]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6f780ae72c13b227b334287d3f12af75c3174ef2/0_0_6126_4084/master/6126.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Rashid’s spell of one for 15 was vital after an English implosion with the bat. Ben Duckett had excelled early on, striking 51 off 28, before Varun Chakravarthy played chief nemesis with figures of five for 24. The visitors were unrelenting in their aggression, a fact welcomed by the hosts as England lost five wickets for 19 runs.
India, however, could never get a proper hold in their reply, the wickets shared by five English bowlers but Rashid the dominant force. Hardik Pandya hit a late 35-ball 40 but Jamie Overton mixed up his pace to collect three wickets and secure a 26-run win.
Jos Buttler’s presence at the crease was demanded not long after he lost the toss once again. Pandya was too clever for Phil Salt, his nuance – a fierce bouncer followed by a fuller slower ball – prompting the opener’s miscue to cover for five.
Duckett, to England’s fortune, found form. This was the left-hander at his Dance Dance Revolution best, bopping around the crease. He scooped Mohammed Shami for six, feasted on Pandya and reverse-swept Washington Sundar for his fifth four in a row. Buttler could sit in the sidecar during their stand of 76.
