An absolute humdinger of a game! It ebbed and flowed both ways throughout, but it's the home side who came out on top in the end. Undoubtedly the stand out game of this series. England winning the toss again, but not able to get over the finish line this time! Dew playing a big factor in today's game after being absent for the first three matches. Conditions that felt much more like the sub-continent! A few controversial decisions. A bunch of slower deliveries and some excellent batting, in stages. This game felt like the frenzy T20 cricket was intended to be!
A few start their international career with a maximum. Doing that with a calypso hook to one of the fastest bowlers in the world. That's unheard off. SKY showed everyone why he's regarded so highly in the Indian circuit, while Shreyas Iyer proved that he's more than just a one dimensional batsmen and can do a job for his side, regardless of his batting position. The batsmen might have taken the accolades but it was India's seamers who were phenomenal tonight! The bowling of Hardik Pandya will also be a huge benefit to the dynamics of this Indian side.
As for England, they won't stray from their plans. The top order performances have been brilliant but the form of Malan might be a bit of a worry. Stokes today, again showed why he's regarded as the best all-rounder in the world and their bowling unit has been exceptional in this series, barring today's game. It should be a cracker of game in a couple of days time!
That's it from myself Pratyush Rohra, as I sign off on behalf of my colleague Shashwat Kumar! Join us again on Saturday, for the decider. Until then, goodnight and take care!
Suryakumar Yadav : Really happy with the way things went. I have always dreamt of playing for India and winning games for the team. Just trying to be myself, I keep talking to myself and try to keep things very simple, not overcomplicate. The team management and Virat backed me and asked me to keep it simple and do what I have been doing in the IPL all along.
Virat Kohli : Proper game against a top side in this format. You expect the wicket to get tough with the dew factor. The wicket was better than any other game and the dew factor was massive, bigger than any other game as well. The wicket allowed us to get to that total. There were a few instances in the middle which were strange, but having said that 180+ was the kind of total we were looking at. Special mention to Surya, he batted outstandingly well in his first game. Similar to Ishan. They are quite fearless having played in the IPL. We don't have any T20Is after this so I want the guys to be confident and come out of it very strongly to take their chances and get the experience. Our guys were clinical with the ball. Shardul turned it around but our powerplay start kept England in check and under pressure. (On the third umpire's calls)There was an instance during the Test series when I was next to Jinks(Rahane) and he clearly caught the ball but he wasn't sure so we went upstairs. If it is a half and half effort and the fielder is in doubt, there is no way the umpire from square leg can see it clearly from yards away. The soft signal becomes that important and it becomes tricky. I don't know why there can't be an "I don't know" call with the umpires. It is similar to umpire's call as well. These are decisions that can change the course of the game, especially in these big games. We were on the receiving side today, and tomorrow it could be some other team. You want these ironed out and keep the game really simple. It isn't ideal in high pressure games and have a lot of clarity on the field. [On him missing out on the field] I ran for a ball and threw it and I just aggrevated my quad a little bit and I didn't want to risk into a niggle or an injury. We have another game in two days and I took the smart decision of going out, rather than spirting around and risking an injury. (On SKY) It's not easy to walk in at three in your first game and we all were stunned. He stamped his authority and allowed the likes off-side Shreyas, Hardik and Pant to do their job. I am a fan of these youngsters. I am more happy for Hardik who bowled his four overs. It augers well for us if he gives us an option with the ball. He was potent with the new ball in the nets. He has skill with the ball and he clicked 140+ as well. He put enough pressure on Roy and then got Sam Curran out as well in the end. His role in the defence in the end was very crucial.
Eoin Morgan : It's definitely been the closest game so far and India played much better and thoroughly deserve the win. There was a lot more dew throughout the game and the game ebbed and flowed a lot. The swing and momentum of the game went back to India and the the last over made it interesting. We are just trying to learn as much as we can in this series. The progression to the World Cup in seven months is important. We were very happy at the half way stage knowing that dew was around. The ball didn't turn much and we were in control. In overs 16th and 17th we lost three wickets in eight balls and that set us back. It just left us with too much to do, especially for the bowlers against a top quality side. Bairstow and Stokes did well to get themselves in. Starting fresh isn't easy, but they managed to negate that with their experience and took their options. Frustrating though then in the end to not get through despite the experience we have. We really want to play in must win games like these, it gives us great experience for bigger stages. Certainly all to play for now. Playing away from home and winning the series will be great.
Shardul Thakur : Bowling the last over is never easy. Not much dew in the last three games but there was here. They were swinging hard and it was important to bowl those dot balls. The change of ball worked for them I think. The game plan was to keep the slower ball short, so the idea was to keep it away from the batsman's arc. Ball was dry so the knuckle ball was easier in the end, the off cutter would have been easy to put away. I'm enjoying my cricket and I'm bowling a lot of overs in the death and in the power play overs, for my domestic sides as well, so I'm used to it now. Rohit told me to back my instincts and to execute my plans, which certainly helped. He mentioned one side of the ground is shorter and just asked me to keep it in mind and asked me to apply myself.
The Indian seamers hold their nerves to level the series! An improbable victory considering England's record while chasing but the Indians continue to perform at their best when they have their backs against the wall! Suryakumar Yadav led the way with the bat and showed why he's regarded so highly around the Indian circuit, while Iyer flourished with a blistering cameo to get his side to 185, but it's the Indian seamers who deserve all the credit to execute their plans to perfection!
Jos Buttler couldn't continue his scintillating form as England got off to a sluggish start, but Roy did some damage before he was dismissed in the forties again! The match seemed in India's favour, even with the dew factor, but Ben Stokes had other plans. His ballistic 46 off 23 balls, alongside some good hitting by Bairstow, they were set to take the game away from India, battering the Indian spinners for 53 runs in four overs.
It was in that tough spot when a new hero emerged for India. Shardul Thakur got Stokes and Morgan in back-to-back deliveries to turn the game on it's head! He was skillfully supported by Bhuvneshwar and Hardik, who shut the door on England and left Thakur 23 runs in the bank for the last over.
Jofra Archer seemed up to the task as he got 10 runs off two balls, to put Thakur under the pump right away! Nerves jangling. Wide, wide. 10 in 3 needed. Thakur's thrown this one away! Nope! Right back, he came to dismiss Archer and seal the victory for his side to level the series at 2-2!
Shardul Thakur holds his nerve! India win this humdinger of a game by 8 runs and level the series 2-2!!
19.6 Shardul Thakur to Jofra Archer, SERIES LEVEL! Knuckle ball on a length outside off stump. Archer has a massive mow at that one and ends up missing the ball by the proverbial country mile!
Adil Rashid, right-hand batsman, comes to the crease.
19.5 Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, OUT! THAKUR GETS THE VITAL BREAKTHROUGH! Length delivery outside off stump and Thakur just about gets away with it. Jordan has a swing at it but is beaten by the lack of pace, meaning that he can arrow it straight to the fielder on the fence at long off! That should be that then!
19.4 Shardul Thakur to Jofra Archer, back of a length delivery outside off stump. Archer has a slog at that one and the ball takes a chunk off the bat before trickling towards the bowler for one.
England need 9 in 2 balls now...
19.4 Shardul Thakur to Jofra Archer, another wretched delivery way outside off stump. Archer leaves it alone and the umpire has a bit of exercise again! Shardul losing the plot now! Oh dear, what is he doing?
19.4 Shardul Thakur to Jofra Archer, slower delivery that is dug into the track well outside off stump. Archer lets that one go and the umpire obliges by signalling a wide! Poor from Thakur!
That mammoth hit has called for a team meeting! Kohli still off the field so Rohit Sharma has taken over as captain. Can Shardul Thakur hold his nerve?
19.3 Shardul Thakur to Jofra Archer, SIX! BANG! Short delivery outside off stump. ARcher sits deep in his crease and smokes that one way over wide long on for a maximum! There is life still! Surely not!?
A change of the ball here by the umpire's, we're not sure why. Advantage for Thakur as he gets to bowl with a drier ball.
19.2 Shardul Thakur to Jofra Archer, FOUR! Right in the slot on middle and off stump. Archer clears his front leg and clobbers that one down the ground past long on for a boundary! Can he find one more boundary? Just to put Thakur under pressure.
19.1 Shardul Thakur to Chris Jordan, slower delivery on a shortish length outside off stump. Jordan gets a thick inside edge that trickles towards Rishabh Pant. Just a single for England
Skillful stuff from Bhuvneshwar! Rolling his fingers over the ball and keeping it away from the batsman's arc, which is not at all easy to do with a wet ball! Archer just getting a boundary on the last delivery to spoil a good over from Bhuvneshwar. Shardul Thakur has plenty in the bank to keep England at bay though!
