​In the fourth T20 international at Bristol, England sealed a nine-wicket victory to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. England chased 159 with ease, reaching the target in 13.5 overs after Phil Salt and captain Harry Brook put together an unbroken 144-run second-wicket stand. Brook struck 79 off 35 balls, while Salt contributed 59 from 42, not scoring until his 10th ball despite going without a boundary for his first nine deliveries.
India’s innings got off to a wobbly start as 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi fell early to Jofra Archer, who finished with 2-20 and later wrapped up the run chase in style by pitching the ball onto the stumps off a Will Jacks delivery to dismiss Axar Patel. Shreyas Iyer produced a valiant 80 off 49 balls from the number four position, but received little support as India posted 158-7. Iyer’s lone effort of substance was remarkable, yet it could not offset a top-order that failed to fire and a batting lineup that repeatedly offered catches to England fielders.
England carried forward the momentum from the previous matches, maintaining their dominance in the series. Archer’s disciplined spell, culminating in a clever stumping-turned-deflection finish to remove Axar Patel, complemented the early breakthrough that set the tone for India’s innings. In the 23rd over, the visitors faced a mounting scoreboard pressure as the English bowlers, aided by sharp fielding, continued to take key wickets and prevent a sizeable total.
For England, Brook’s dynamic innings was the cornerstone of the chase. He struck 79 from 35 balls, causing India’s bowlers to reel as the target dwindled. Salt’s composed support ensured there was no danger of a collapse, and his 59 from 42 deliveries, while not scoring off his first nine balls, punctuated the partnership and carried England home with ample time to spare.
With this win, England extended their lead to 3-0 in the series, having already claimed the previous two matches in convincing fashion after the opening game at Chester-le-Street was abandoned due to weather. India, having suffered a fifth consecutive defeat in completed 20-over matches, now faces a stern test as the five-match series moves toward its conclusion.
The final game of the series is scheduled to take place at Southampton on Saturday (14:30 BST). India will be desperate to avoid concluding the five-match set without a victory, a rare outcome for a side that has enjoyed back-to-back T20 world championships in recent years but now confronts a troubling run of form. The momentum in this Bristol clash, however, clearly lay with England, who demonstrated efficient batting, disciplined bowling, and sharp fielding to turn the tide decisively in their favor.