NEW DELHI: India made the perfect start in the fifth and final T20I against England by dismissing Phil Salt early at The Rose Bowl in Southampton. But just a few overs later, a costly fielding mistake from Shivam Dube gave England captain Harry Brook a lifeline.The incident happened in the sixth over of England’s innings. Fast bowler Prince Yadav bowled a short delivery outside off stump, and Brook went for a big pull shot. Instead, he got a thick top edge that went high into the air. It looked like a straightforward catch for Dube, who ran back from the infield. However, he failed to judge the ball properly and dropped the big chance. The dropped chance proved to be a huge turning point.Brook was still in the early stages of his innings and made full use of the reprieve. He went on to smash an unbeaten 95 off just 46 balls, while Jos Buttler hammered 131 from 64 deliveries.The pair stitched together a stunning 233-run partnership for the second wicket, helping England post a massive 257.India’s poor fielding did not end there. Dube later dismissed Buttler in the 19th over, but by then the England skipper had already done the damage. Brook was also dropped again on 90 by Ishan Kishan.
England complete 4-0 series sweep
Chasing a daunting target of 258, India started aggressively but could only manage 201/8 in 20 overs despite half-centuries from Ishan Kishan (56) and Tilak Varma (53).England sealed a 56-run victory to complete a 4-0 clean sweep in the five-match series.The defeat also cost India the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings. England climbed to the top after extending India’s losing streak in T20Is to six matches.
