Phil Salt, Josh Tongue help England crush India in third T20I

NOTTINGHAM: Phil Salt's blistering half-century, followed by Josh Tongue's four-wicket haul, propelled England to a resounding 125-run victory over India in the third T20I of the five-match home series here at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

Set to chase a daunting 202-run target, the reigning world champions could muster 79 runs before getting bowled out in 11.4 overs, which was their joint second-lowest total in the format.

15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan remained the joint top-scorers for India with 15 each, while Abhishek Sharma and Axar Patel, 10 each, were the other batters to amass double figures against a ruthless England bowling attack, led by Tongue, who picked up four wickets for just 28 runs in his four overs.

Tongue was supported by fellow pacer Jofra Archer, who took three wickets for 29 runs in his three overs, followed by Adil Rashid with two, while Will Jacks chipped in with one scalp.

India captain Shreyas Iyer's decision to field first backfired as the hosts piled up 201/7 in their 20 overs in the third match of the series, which they lead 1-0.

England got off to a steady start to their innings as their opening pair of Salt and Jos Buttler put together 43 runs in five overs.

Right-arm pacer Prince Yadav, who replaced Ravi Bishnoi in India's lineup for the fixture, gave the visitors the much-needed breakthrough on the first delivery of the sixth over by dismissing Buttler, who made 36 off 21 deliveries with the help of four fours and two sixes.

Salt was then involved in brief partnerships with captain Harry Brook (16) and Jacob Bethell (13) to keep England steady, but Harshit Rana's twin strike in the 12th over reduced them to 111/4.

The right-handed opener was then joined by Curran in the middle, and the duo turned the tide back in England's favour by sharing a crucial 47-run partnership for the fifth wicket, which culminated with Salt's dismissal in the 17th over.

Salt remained the top-scorer for England with a 44-ball 70, studded with seven fours and three sixes.

Curran, on the other hand, continued the onslaught and batted until the end to ensure England breached the 200-run barrier with an unbeaten 44-run cameo, which came off just 24 deliveries and featured four boundaries.

For India, Yadav and Rana bagged two wickets each, while Axar Patel made one scalp.