Brilliant knock from Buttler and admirable support from Bairstow as England cruised to their target, Kohli played brilliantly in India's innings, but their catching and fielding let them down badly, none more so than the skipper himself.

England 2-1 up with 2 to play.

Good win, 156 looked a decent (but not insurmountable score). Made it look easy with Butler batting through for 83 (from 52b).

As you say, fielding/catching wasnt up to scratch from India. There was a bit on BBC website coverage (sourced from Opta) saying "Virat Kohli has dropped 8 catches in men's T20Is since the start of 2019, the most recorded by any fielder from a Test-playing nation."

I'm sure its something a few England players will remind him of in coming games.

LeadBelly wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 16, 2021 5:16 pm

Good win, 156 looked a decent (but not insurmountable score). Made it look easy with Butler batting through for 83 (from 52b).

As you say, fielding/catching wasnt up to scratch from India. There was a bit on BBC website coverage (sourced from Opta) saying "Virat Kohli has dropped 8 catches in men's T20Is since the start of 2019, the most recorded by any fielder from a Test-playing nation."

I'm sure its something a few England players will remind him of in coming games.

Nooooo surely not ... that wouldn't be cricket

India got more than they should have but that was all down to Kohli, but then we had Buttler who was superb although he should have been out late in the day only for Kohli to drop another catch. Easy win in the end.

Trouble is, it seems to be a huge advantage winning the toss and bowling first. What we need to see is either team win when batting first.

I just saw mentioned elsewhere that the 158-2 we got today was more than we got in 3 of the 4 test innings we played on this ground in the just completed test series (112, 81, 205 and 135). Says quite a lot about our poor effort in those last two test matches I guess.

LeadBelly wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 16, 2021 7:58 pm

I just saw mentioned elsewhere that the 158-2 we got today was more than we got in 3 of the 4 test innings we played on this ground in the just completed test series (112, 81, 205 and 135). Says quite a lot about our poor effort in those last two test matches I guess.

Not the same team, not the same format.

Targetman wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:06 pm

Not the same team, not the same format.

I agree and I’d go further and say that it really hammers home that Bairstow isn’t technically good enough to play test match cricket. He looked like he didn’t know which end of the bat to hold in the tests and he looks a player again now the ball doesn’t move so much.
Unless he can sort getting out bowled and LB there has to be a better test match batter than him.
I’m not sure I can cope with seeing him bowled through the gate with a gap big enough for Mandy Dingle to fit through then walking off shaking his head like it’s someone else’s fault all summer

Red Fox Rocks Socks wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:32 pm

I agree and I’d go further and say that it really hammers home that Bairstow isn’t technically good enough to play test match cricket. He looked like he didn’t know which end of the bat to hold in the tests and he looks a player again now the ball doesn’t move so much.
Unless he can sort getting out bowled and LB there has to be a better test match batter than him.
I’m not sure I can cope with seeing him bowled through the gate with a gap big enough for Mandy Dingle to fit through then walking off shaking his head like it’s someone else’s fault all summer

Bairstow is a fabulous white ball cricketer, but he's seriously out of his depth in a test match, and I really hope the England selectors finally realise this fact.

The Mandy Dingle reference was funny I have to admit, but I take your point good players with a proper technique should rarely be bowled through the gate as he regularly is.

Win the toss win the match. Can’t believe they are going to play the T20 World Cup under such conditions during the monsoon season too. Bit of a joke tbh

I suppose that's handy to know for anyone who has recorded it and was going to watch it later. Isn't that why these threads are normally headed up "3rd T20" without mentioning the result?

Prefeot wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 16, 2021 9:20 pm

Win the toss win the match. Can’t believe they are going to play the T20 World Cup under such conditions during the monsoon season too. Bit of a joke tbh

Couldn’t agree more. It’s becoming a farce this series and the World Cup will be undermined if it’s a case of win the toss, win the game.

Also, unbelievable that the pitch for the third test wasn’t ranked as poor.

Foulthrow wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 17, 2021 7:35 am

Couldn’t agree more. It’s becoming a farce this series and the World Cup will be undermined if it’s a case of win the toss, win the game.

Also, unbelievable that the pitch for the third test wasn’t ranked as poor.

So ultimately the outcome of the WC will be decided quite literally on the toss of a coin.

It doesn't surprise me the 3rd test pitch didn't earn India any demerit points, but how that pitch can be described as average beats me, the test only lasted 5 sessions, how on earth can that be deemed as normal.

Red Fox Rocks Socks wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:32 pm

I agree and I’d go further and say that it really hammers home that Bairstow isn’t technically good enough to play test match cricket. He looked like he didn’t know which end of the bat to hold in the tests and he looks a player again now the ball doesn’t move so much.
Unless he can sort getting out bowled and LB there has to be a better test match batter than him.
I’m not sure I can cope with seeing him bowled through the gate with a gap big enough for Mandy Dingle to fit through then walking off shaking his head like it’s someone else’s fault all summer

Couldn’t agree more on Bairstow and that includes his head shaking

It's so much easier to bat in white ball cricket mentally.

The ball doesn't move, no pressure if you get out and no catches around the bat. Edges generally run for 4.

India making a good start to last and deciding T20.

India flying 70 -0 off 7 overs.

At last......a wicket

Astonishing catch on the boundary - will go down as caught Roy but it was all Jordan

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 20, 2021 2:37 pm

Astonishing catch on the boundary - will go down as caught Roy but it was all Jordan

That was quite astonishing! Jason Roy’s reaction was priceless!

Amazing how he caught that with one hand......Roy's face was a picture.

Leyland Claret wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 20, 2021 2:39 pm

That was quite astonishing! Jason Roy’s reaction was priceless!

I think Roy’s reaction made it even better.

The scorecard says out, but somewhere Jordan’s assist should be shown

Pace bowling doesn't seem to be the answer in T20.
The faster they bowl the faster & further it flies off the bat, where's our medium paced Paul Collingwood type bowlers ?

As the saying goes......It's a good game to win.

225 is some target, but England do have the batters to chase it down on a good day.

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 20, 2021 3:23 pm

225 is some target, but England do have the batters to chase it down on a good day.

I don't think today is that day tiger !

nelincsclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 20, 2021 2:46 pm

The scorecard says out, but somewhere Jordan’s assist should be shown

Unfortunately it doesn't in terms of the scorecard but it is simply brilliant fielding

Aclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 20, 2021 3:30 pm

I don't think today is that day tiger !

Against this attack I suspect you're correct.

Decent start by Malan & Buttler though.

Buttler and Malan did their best, but that imposing total was always going to be a challenge.

Looks like another victory for the team that lost the toss BTW.

Looked possible when Buttler & Malan were going well but we couldn’t afford to lose the wickets.

What happened between Kohli & Buttler when he was out. Buttler clearly not happy and umpires intervened.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 20, 2021 5:07 pm

Looked possible when Buttler & Malan were going well but we couldn’t afford to lose the wickets.

What happened between Kohli & Buttler when he was out. Buttler clearly not happy and umpires intervened.

Kohli was following Buttler off the field giving him a right send off.... he's lucky Jos didn't square up to him.

It’s just died now. Going to lose this by a big margin.

Aclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 20, 2021 5:13 pm

Kohli was following Buttler off the field giving him a right send off.... he's lucky Jos didn't square up to him.

I just saw Jos coming back on. Great player is Kohli but he has these moments.

Agree, Kholi is a great player but, does seem to get in the faces of opposition players at times.....it's just not cricket.

Two big 6s from Sam Curran at the end but lost by 36 runs.

Off to Venkyland now for the ODIs.

Agree, Kohli is a great player but, does seem to get in the faces of opposition players at times.....it's just not cricket.

A flourish at the end from England, but too little too late, India win by 36 runs to take the series.

Agree on Kohli there's just no need for these theatrics, and it's not the 1st time in this series he's let himself down.