Ben Duckett and Liam Livingstone star with the bat as England dig deep to seal 26-run win against India to halve the deficit to 2-1 in T20I series
Ben Duckett and Liam Livingstone star with the bat as England dig deep to seal 26-run win against India to halve the deficit to 2-1 in T20I series
Share:
England dug deep to fight their way back into the Twenty20 series against India, sealing a 26-run victory that halved the deficit to 2-1. They completed it against the head, after losing the toss once again, and having to contend with the evening dew at its heaviest when defending.
![[Liam Livingstone smashed 43 off 24 including five sixes to rescue England's first innings]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/17/94604525-0-image-a-3_1738085470052.jpg)
And after recovering from a huge batting collapse inspired by leg-spinning nemesis Varun Chakravarthy’s five for 24. That they made their biggest score of the series so far came down to a couple of boundary flurries from Ben Duckett and Liam Livingstone.
![[England were made to contend with the leg-spin of Varun Chakravarthy once more, who took five for 24]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/17/94604489-0-image-a-1_1738085431909.jpg)
First, Duckett hit or cleared the rope six times in seven deliveries during a 26-ball half century that injected some impetus into the innings after his opening partner Phil Salt failed to take advantage of negotiating the first over for the first time in the series.
![[Ben Duckett had earlier top-scored with 51 from 28 deliveries with seven fours and two sixes]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/17/94604499-14334645-image-a-16_1738085849285.jpg)
Then, Liam Livingstone reacted to being left with the tail by crunching Ravi Bishnoi for three sixes in four balls on his way to 43 from 24 deliveries. Jamie Overton took three wickets as the tourists successfully defended their score of 171. Liam Livingstone smashed 43 off 24 including five sixes to rescue England's first innings.
![[Captain Jos Buttler could contribute only 24 from 22 before becoming Chakravarthy's first victim]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/17/94604493-14334645-image-a-17_1738085881978.jpg)
England were made to contend with the leg-spin of Varun Chakravarthy once more, who took five for 24. With 171 for nine on the board, England still required early wickets and backed up by excellent catching their pace bowlers took three in the power play - Archer’s over-shoulder grab to dismiss Abhishek Sharma the pick.
![[Mohammad Shami won his first cap since the 2023 One-Day World Cup after injury issues]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/17/94604953-14334645-image-a-18_1738085964323.jpg)
