Harry Brook smashed 79 off 35 balls and Phil Salt added 59 as England thrashed India by nine wickets in the fourth T20 international in Bristol, clinching the series with one game remaining. The victory, achieved with six overs to spare, highlighted England's dominance and left the world champions India struggling to adapt to foreign conditions.
England's Dominant Chase
Chasing a modest target of 159, England overcame the early loss of Jos Buttler for eight to reach 159-1 in just 14 overs. Brook, who took over as captain after Buttler's dismissal, set the tone by scooping his second ball for six. He reached his half-century off 21 deliveries with a massive six down the ground off Axar Patel, finishing unbeaten on 79 with four sixes and eight fours. Salt, after a sluggish start that saw him scoreless off nine balls, accelerated to his fifty off 34 balls, benefiting from no-balls that gave him free hits. The pair's unbroken 119-run stand ensured England's victory.
India's Batting Struggles
India's innings, after being put in to bat, was marked by caution and poor shot selection. They managed only 158-7, with captain Shreyas Iyer top-scoring with 80 off 49 balls. However, the rest of the batting lineup failed to provide support, with wickets falling regularly. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue were among the wickets for England, with Archer taking 2-28 and Tongue 2-31. India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate admitted the team's inability to adapt: "What works in India won't necessarily work here. We've spoken so much about adaptability, but I think it's got to the point now we actually have to unpack that suitcase."
Brook's Leadership and Team Adaptation
Harry Brook praised his team's ability to adapt to conditions, a key factor in their recent success. "We're always striving to be the best team in the world. One thing we really wanted to do is adapt to conditions and play what's in front of us. And that's what we've done really well over the past six or eight months," he said. England's victory, following a 125-run win in the previous match, showcased both their bowling and batting depth. If they win the final game in Southampton on Saturday, they will overtake India as the world's No. 1 T20 side.
India's Persistent Issues
India's series defeat has exposed their ongoing struggles in foreign conditions. Ten Doeschate highlighted the need for a mental shift: "The challenge to the group has been to accept the fact that we are underachieving in foreign conditions and say, look, do we want to be a team that smashes 250 in India and looks great, or do we want to come to places like this, where things are slightly different?" India's batting, aside from Iyer, appeared tentative, with several wickets falling to aerial shots that found England's fielders. The series loss is a setback for the world champions as they prepare for future overseas assignments.
