Fifth T20I: England completes clean sweep against India; crushes world champions by 56 runs

Southampton: Powered by a blistering century from former captain Jos Buttler and an unbeaten 95 from current captain Harry Brook, the England cricket team not only posted their highest-ever score against India but also bowled magnificently to defend the target of 257 runs. With Sam Curran claiming three wickets, England secured both the match and the series. England registered a resounding 56-run victory over India, driven by explosive batting, and clinched the series 4-0.

Consequently, Shreyas Iyer's captaincy has come under scrutiny; having already lost the series against Ireland, he is now facing heavy criticism following the defeat to England. He had been appointed captain to replace World Cup winner Suryakumar Yadav. Meanwhile, head coach Gautam Gambhir is also facing criticism.

What are Highlights of England's Innings?

Batting first, England posted a massive total of 257 for 3 in their allotted 20 overs. The standout performer was wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler, who played a whirlwind knock of 131 runs off just 64 balls, featuring 12 fours and 8 sixes. Captain Harry Brook provided excellent support, scoring an unbeaten 95 off 45 balls, including 4 fours and 8 sixes. A record-breaking 233-run partnership for the second wicket between the two left the Indian bowlers completely helpless.

England did not get off to a good start, with Philip Salt getting out for just 6 runs. Subsequently, Buttler and Brook launched a relentless attack on the Indian bowling lineup. In the final overs, both batters hit big shots to propel the score past the 250-run mark. For India, Shivam Dube took two wickets, while Prasidh Krishna claimed one; however, the other bowlers proved expensive. Axar Patel conceded 63 runs in his 4 overs, while Prince Yadav gave away 60 runs.

What were Highlights of India's innings?

Chasing a challenging target of 258 runs, the Indian team got off to a quick start but failed to get anywhere near the target due to the loss of wickets at regular intervals. Wicketkeeper Sanju Samson scored 27 runs off 14 balls, while Ishan Kishan played a useful innings of 56 runs off 35 balls. Captain Shreyas Iyer (28 runs) and Tilak Varma (a brilliant 53 off 25 balls) raised hopes, but wickets kept tumbling at the other end.

What about Sam Curran's superb bowling?

For England, Sam Curran bowled brilliantly, taking 3 wickets for 36 runs in his 4 overs. Adil Rashid claimed 2 wickets, while Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, and Liam Dawson picked up one wicket each. The Indian team could only manage 201 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs, suffering a 56-run defeat.

What is the primary reason for India's defeat in the 5th match against England?

Jos Buttler's explosive century and his record-breaking partnership with Harry Brook were the key factors behind the victory. Conversely, the Indian bowlers' expensive spells and the team's loss of wickets during the middle overs were the main reasons for the defeat.