England stormed to a nine-wicket win over India in Bristol, sealing an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series—their first bilateral series victory over India since 2019. Harry Brook and Phil Salt’s unbeaten century partnership made light work of a 159-run chase, finishing with 6.1 overs to spare.

Brook and Salt dismantle India with audacious batting

India’s early joy—Arshdeep Singh dismissing Jos Buttler in the third over—vanished fast. Brook announced his intent with a scooped six off Arshdeep, then unleashed a flurry of inventive strokes. Salt, slow to start, exploded after a no-ball reprieve, and by the Powerplay, England were 62 for 1.

The onslaught continued. Brook bludgeoned Washington Sundar for 19 in an over, racing to a 21-ball fifty with a six off Axar Patel. Salt joined the party, launching Axar over extra cover before reaching his own fifty in 37 balls. Their unbroken 137-run stand—Brook finishing 79* off 35, Salt 59* off 37—left India shell-shocked.

England’s bowlers strangle India to 158

Winning the toss again, India’s batting faltered under England’s disciplined attack. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue struck early, removing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan with short balls as India slumped to 32 for 2. Adil Rashid then trapped Abhishek Sharma, leaving India at 48 for 3 after a sluggish Powerplay (44 for 2).

Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube rebuilt with a 53-run stand, but boundaries dried up against England’s spin and variations. Will Jacks broke the partnership with a slower ball, and though Shreyas unleashed a late assault—20 off Rashid’s 18th over, including two sixes—England tightened the screws. Tongue dismissed Tilak Varma, and Archer’s run-out of Axar Patel capped India’s innings at 158 for 7, with Shreyas unbeaten on 80 off 49.

Series sealed: What’s next for England and India?

India’s winless T20I streak now stretches to six matches since their World Cup triumph in March. England, meanwhile, march on with momentum. The series resumes with the fourth T20I, but the damage is done—India must regroup, while England’s aggressive brand of cricket shows no signs of slowing.

  • India: 158/7 (Shreyas Iyer 80*; Jofra Archer 2-20, Josh Tongue 2-36)
  • England: 159/1 in 13.5 overs (Harry Brook 79*, Phil Salt 59*; Arshdeep Singh 1-41)
  • Result: England won by 9 wickets