India won a close encounter in fourth T20 by 8 runs. It was achieved on the back of some outstanding death bowling by the pace trio of Hardik Pandya, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur bowling 2 overs.
At the end of 15 overs of English innings, they required just 54 runs to win the game. With Ben Stokes and Eoin Morgan well set, it appeared to be a cakewalk for England. Just a good over with the bat would have sealed the game for their team.
However, that good over did not arrive till the last. The three Indian pacers bowled their heart out in the last 5 overs to take the hosts to victory.
Bhuvi Kumar in the 16th over gave just 8 runs which started to tighten the screws on England.
The most important over of the match in deciding the outcome of the match was the 17th over bowled by Shardul Thakur.
Sensational Shardul in death overs
46 runs required in the final 4, Thakur began to bowl to Stokes and Morgan. The first ball of the over was a slower delivery and Stokes just bashed it straight into the hands of long off.
With a set batsman gone, India could sense they are still in the game. Then, Thakur ran in to bowl the second ball of the over. Another off cutter was bowled by Thakur.
Morgan tried to slice it over extra cover but totally mistimed the shot due to slowness of the ball and the hit just went in the air. The fielder at extra cover ran in and took a simple catch at waist high.
Now, two wickets in two deliveries was gone and India was on the move. In just a matter of two balls, two set and dangerous batsmen were gone. India could move in for the kill.
The next four deliveries went for just seven runs as a brilliant over ended with 7 runs and two match winning wickets.
England could never recover from the double whammy as they ultimately fell shot by 8 runs.
In the past, India had been haunted by death bowling. Many a times, the Indian team lost a match due to too much leaking of runs. Shardul Thakur could just be another man India can turn to in the times of crisis.
