Highlights, India vs England, 3rd T20I at Bristol, Full cricket score: Rohit Sharma's ton helps visitors clinch series 2-1

Virat Kohli, India captain: Absolutely. The comeback from the bowlers was outstanding. At one point it looked as if they were going to reach 225, which would have been really tough on this surface. Immensely proud of the team. Very happy as a captain. Just hit our areas better I guess. We have the qualities to bowl wicket-taking deliveries as well. 25-30 runs in this format can be massive.  We executed it really well and put the pressure back on them. He is really good all-round cricketer. He is very sure of what he wants to do. He got 33 off litreally nothing. It was difficult for the bowlers, was a flat wicket and we enjoyed it as batsman. Brutal day for the bowlers. Don’t like to look at in the hindsight but we could’ve added another bowler. Guys produced goods for us. Very important. The guys are taking this as an opportunity. You saw the kind of energy and attitude we had on the field. Great to have a win at the start of the tour.

Eoin Morgan, England captain: Jason Roy, Buttler proved how dominant force they are with the bat. We did not do justice to their effort at the top. We have to work hard on finding right balls to hit. India bowled well. On a small ground, you had to score more than that. When a guy like Rohit hits a hundred, it is very difficult to stop. When you play against India and Pakistan, you see a good support. This series has produced three different performances. We have learnt and we now go from here and improve. It is exciting. Trent Bridge is good ground for us. Hopefully, the ODI series will as entertaining as this series was.

Indian team gets on to the podium to collect the medallions and will be followed by lifting the trophy!

This was always going to be a clash of two brilliant limited-overs’ sides… and it has turned out to be so… India have trumped England 2-1 here and we have another clash starting on Thursday in the ODI format. England were slight favourites for this series, and perhaps for the ODIs as well. That has changed now. Clearly India are favourites, but the key thing is that both teams have sized each other up. There is a good chance the ODI series will have even more fireworks because England are an even better ODI side, just like India.

The master enjoyed it as well. With some spot on prediction!

Such clean hitting by @ImRo45!!
This innings was a pure joy to watch. Hope this form translates to the ODIs. (Thanks for helping my 19th over prediction come true! 😜) pic.twitter.com/xZnyAFm1Sj

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 8, 2018

Rohit Sharma: That’s the style of the play. Always knew it was going to be a good pitch. Idea was to hold the shape and play my shots. When I bat, I like to be calm and not to panic too much. Important to spend some time in the middle and then you have chance to make up. I always knew it that if stay there wicket will get easier. He has done it now for few years. The way he bowled gave him a lot of confidence to come out and bat well.

Rohit Sharma is the Man of the Match and Man of the Series

Some serious hitting from the ultimate HITMAN!
 

💯👏👏

HITMANNNNN!

A fine century for @ImRo45 as he now becomes the second player to score 3 T20I tons.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/AdPLQfWMn7

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 8, 2018

Ayaz has asked an important question. Who will be the MoM?

Smashing win. This is a tour de force performance by India. @ImRo45 & @hardikpandya7 the stars. I'll leave it to you to choose MoM

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 8, 2018

Hundred for Rohit… third T20I hundred… matches Colin Munro… just manoeuvred the game his way… India are coasting now…

India win by 7 wickets to win series 2-1

Hardik Pandya finishes it in grand fashion. A huge six over long on to celebrate T20I series win in England. Brings up the 200 as well, in case that matters. India reached the target with 8 balls to spare. Remarkable batting performance by India and they were lead by opener Rohit Sharma, who scored a 56-ball century.

CENTURY! What a class act Rohit Sharma is! Dabs it to third man to bring his third T20I hundred. Only the second player to achieve the feat. The team rises in the dug out to applaud the effort.

FOUR! Rohit Sharma moves to 99. First ball over Jordan’s over is blasted over covers for a boundary. Simply thrashed it. India now one-hit away. Will Rohit celebrate the win with the 100?

After 18 overs,India 190/3 ( Rohit Sharma 95 , Hardik Pandya 27)

Hardik is too having he share of fun, tonking the ball around. Willey’s over costs 20 runs and the over puts the game all but out of England’s grasp, not that they ever had firm grip on it, but now the result is merely a formality.

FOUR! Beats the short third man and that is another boundary in the over. Willey taken to the cleaners. Smart thinking by Pandya to simply use the pace of the bowler to earn another boundary.

FOUR! Pandya carves it past point to beat the sweeper in the deep to collect another boundary. India racing towards the total.

SIX! Length by Willey and Hardik goes straight over long off for a six.

FOUR! Oh, Rohit Sharma! How on earth did he get underneath that one. Willey coming from round the wicket angles it full into the base of fourth stump, Rohit moves across and scoops it wide of fine leg for four, which almost carried for six!

Precisely what India didn’t want… Jordan with a second good catch… In a game of intense bat and ball competition… His fielding has perhaps changed the game.

After 17 overs,India 170/3 ( Rohit Sharma 90 , Hardik Pandya 12)

Just the over India was looking forward to. Targetted Jake Ball and smashed him for three boundaries. Rohit into the 90s. 29 off 18 needed.

FOUR! Pulled away off the front foot by Rohit Sharma! A sight you wouldn’t mind watching over and over again.

FOUR! Very nicely done by Hardik Pandya! Moves closer to the line of the bat and opens the face of the bat to glide it to the third man bundary, played it very fine for the fielder to cut it.

FOUR! Mid-off is up in the ring and Hardik likes the invitation. Comes forward to loft it over for a boundary.

After 16 overs,India 155/3 ( Rohit Sharma 85 , Hardik Pandya 2)

New man at the crease. A wicket in the previous over and few nerves in the Indian dressing room. Rashid slips in a quiet over as pressure slighlty tilts back on to India, but still very much in control. Tight finish coming up. 44 needed off 24.

After 15 overs,India 151/3 ( Rohit Sharma 83 , Hardik Pandya 0)

England eye an opening here. Jordan has bowled an amazing 15th over, giving away just three runs and a wicket of opposition captain. He has one more over left and presumably he will bowl the 19th or 20th. Hardik has come in before Raina and MS Dhoni

Precisely what India didn’t want… Jordan with a second good catch… In a game of intense bat and ball competition… His fielding has perhaps changed the game.

OUT! The dot ball pressure got to Kohli. Shimmied down the track and was trying to muscle a full delivery, couldn’t get underneath it completely and he throbs at it but straight into Chris Jordan, who does well to cling on to that powerful hit.

V Kohli c and b C Jordan 43 (29)

After 14 overs,India 149/2 ( Rohit Sharma 82 , Virat Kohli (C) 42)

Prodigious batting from Rohit and Virat. Relentlessly applying the pressure on England bowlers. India need 50 off the last six. England looking clueless.

FOUR! Full outside off and Rohit lofts it over off side to the cover boundary. Not the best of connections still enough for a one-bounce four.

India shifting gears up… Virat and Rohit both targeting the cover boundary… This partnership holds key for a wicket here would cost India momentum..

SIX! Not very often we see Kohli lose his shape, but one thing we often see is him score boundaries. Plunkett had bowled it wide off off-stump and Kohli had decided to go after it. Hits with immense power to strike it over wide long off.

Interesting over from Jordan… used his variations to good effect… foxed Rohit on a couple occasions.. but that six has brought them back into the equation… this is turning out to be some chase here.

After 13 overs,India 135/2 ( Rohit Sharma 77 , Virat Kohli (C) 34)

Jordan is brought back into the attack. England desperate for a wicket, perhaps two wickets. Was a very good over until the final ball that was dispatched for six. Four singles off first five and then Rohit’s six. 64 needed off 7 overs.

SIX! Fantastic over ruined because of one bad ball and that’s how cruel cricket is these days, but honestly that was not the ideal delivery to end the over with. Jordan searching for that blockhole delivers a fulltoss on pads that has been flicked over long leg.

After 12 overs,India 125/2 ( Rohit Sharma 69 , Virat Kohli (C) 32)

These two are making batting look ridiculously easy here. Two modern day greats showing how it is done. 74 needed off 48 balls now. Rashid’s over goes for 9 runs.

SIX! Colossal hit from Virat Kohli. Dances down the pitch and thumps it over long on for a six. He had the spin covered and launched it over.

After 11 overs,India 116/2 ( Rohit Sharma 67 , Virat Kohli (C) 25)

Phenomenal batting from Rohit Sharma! Some breathtaking strokes from the Indian opener. 83 runs needed off 54 balls with 8 wickets in hand, this is India’s series to lose.

What a sound from that shot… Rohit absolutely tonked that… and then playing such a deft shot down past the keeper… this is a master class in T20 batting. Only thing he needs to carry on here for India to move closer to the finish line…

FOUR! Incredible batting! Rohit was about to charge down the pitch but stopped seeing the length of Plunkett’s delivery. The short ball was angled into him glide it through slips

SIX! Cross-seamed back of a length delivery outside off and Rohit Sharma stands tall to simply massacre the ball out of the park.

After 10 overs,India 100/2 ( Rohit Sharma 56 , Virat Kohli (C) 20)

Interesting battle this between Rohit and Virat versus wrist-spinner Adil Rashid. The bowler is been hit for runs, but the batsmen have had to play good strokes to keep the scoreboard ticking. The bowler even foxed Rohit with a googly. 100 up in the 10th over.

FOUR! Ahh well, that’s a superb shot by Virat Kohli. Little bit of width from Rashid and he has pounced on it. Cut away past point for a boundary.

After 9 overs,India 91/2 ( Rohit Sharma 54 , Virat Kohli (C) 13)

India are maintaining the run rate right from the start of the innings. With these two in the middle, the boundary won’t be hard to find. Rohit is looking in fine touch after raising his fifty.

FIFTY! Half-century off 28 balls! Rohit Sharma gets to the landmark with a boundary off the top edge to fine leg, but it  has been stunning innings to say the least. Free-flowing strokes gliding off Rohit’s bat, always a sight to watch.

After 8 overs,India 82/2 ( Rohit Sharma 48 , Virat Kohli (C) 10)

Time for spin. Adil Rashid is brought into the bowling attack. Bairstow does well in the deep to keep Rohit’s square cut down to two. After couple if single, Rohit cuts for a boundary. Two more singles to end the over.

FOUR! Bairstow got around for the first one, but the deep backward point had no chance this time. Rohit Sharma, a batsman who has had all the time in the world, plays the late cut as late as one can play to earn four runs. Unfair for the batsman, was worth more!

After 7 overs,India 72/2 ( Rohit Sharma 40 , Virat Kohli (C) 8)

Ben Stokes into the action. He hasn’t bowled in a while and begins with one wide outside off stump. Virat drills it, but the point fielder puts in an outstanding effort to save four runs for his side. Stokes maintains the wide off offstump line and gives away only couple of singles in his first over. Good start for him.

After 6 overs,India 70/2 ( Rohit Sharma 39 , Virat Kohli (C) 7)

Rahul’s wicket will hurt India, but his 19 off 10 has helped India put 70 off the first six. Captain Virat Kohli has walked in at number 4 and started off with a confident boundary.

FOUR! Wristy! Virat Kohli wastes no time to get off the mark. On the pads and flicked away to the boundary.

WHAT. A. CATCH. There’s enough space on this small ground for Jordan to run back and take a stunner diving back at long on… Rahul is gone and trust me half the ground – or more – cannot believe what we have just seen… only the third game between the two but this could be the catch of this entire tour already… Stunner from Jordan!

OUT! Chris Jordan takes an absolute screammer! Call it ‘Air Jordan’. Even the cameraman seemed to have lost the ball for a minute as it looked that Rahul’s hit was sailing over wide long on, but  running backwards and sideways, Jordan puts in the dive to take a spectacular catch. Jake Ball with the wicket!

This ground is a bowler-killer… mishit from Rohit over cover goes for four. Square cut from Rahul flies over third man… India won’t be complaining though. England didn’t complain either….

SIX! Short and angled into Rahul’s ribs, he pivots and out comes the short arm pull to hack it over fine leg.

After 5 overs,India 56/1 ( Rohit Sharma 38 , KL Rahul 13)

Rohit and Rahul seemed to be unaffected by Dhawan’s dismissal. Score big in the powerplay will be the message and they are. Over 11 runs an over. 13 off Plunkett’s first.

SIX! KL Rahul with a six! Not exactly where Rahul was targetting as the ball takes outside half of the bat and sails wide of third man boundary.

FOUR! All the Rohit Sharma detractors will need a hiding here. Intentionally opens the face of the blade and hits it over the infield on the offside for another boundary.

After 4 overs,India 43/1 ( Rohit Sharma 33 , KL Rahul 5)

Threatening signs for Eoin Morgan and England. Rohit Sharma is looking sublime here and when that happens he bats like an unstoppable force. India and England have identical scores at the end of 4 overs, only the visitors have lost the wicket of Dhawan. Jordan’s first over costs 16.

Ball has been changed… weirdly enough it was changed in the England innings as well after being hit at the same end by one of the openers… ’there’s a wall of sandpaper there’ is the comical word here… ouch Australia!

SIX! Six more! Rohit Sharma loves the pull shot! Jordan offers the perfect length and he is onto it in a flash. He is launching an assault with a lot of class.

SIX! Brutal! Rohit has simply belted this one over long on for a huge hit. He is looking extremely good here and Jordan is receiving some harsh treatment.

FOUR! Jordan is welcomed to the bowling crease with bruising boundary. Outside off and Rohit stays on the backfoot to square drive it through the offside.

After 3 overs,India 27/1 ( Rohit Sharma 17 , KL Rahul 5)

England have the big wicket of Shikhar Dhawan early in the innings. KL Rahul has announced his arrival with a majestic punch down the ground. Going at 9 runs an over.

FOUR! Ohhhhh! Lovely shot to begin with for KL Rahul. Willey pitched it up, looking for swing and Rahul presses forward and caresses straight past the bowler.

21/0 in 2 overs… won’t say India have a flier because it is poised to be a lengthy chase… but at the same time it is a good start matching England’s run-rate… 

And just as I type this… Dhawan has been caught. Not the best ball down leg, but the batsman has picked out the short fine leg fielder…

OUT! Gone! Dhawan has flicked the ball on his pads straight to short fine leg fielder. Jake Ball with a sensational diving catch. Dhawan walks off with a smile on his face. Wasn’t a wrong shot, just found the man. England with an early and important breakthrough.

After 2 overs,India 21/0 ( Rohit Sharma 16 , Shikhar Dhawan 5)

FOUR! Another boundary to end the over. Strayed on the pads and Rohit is too good a batsman to miss out on that opportunity.

FOUR! Easy pickings for Rohit Sharma! Jake Ball aims it into his body and Rohit is steady to pivot and play it fine for a boundary to the  left of fine leg.

After 1 overs,India 11/0 ( Rohit Sharma 7 , Shikhar Dhawan 4)

David Willey starts of with couple of dots after which Rohit decides to step out and upset the length. A stunning boundary to end the over.

FOUR! Delightful stroke this by Dhawan! Absolutely beautiful! On the front foot and crunched through the covers.

SIX! My word! That is gorgeous shot! Couple of strides outside and flicks it over mid wicket for a six!

We’re back for the chase! Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan are out in the middle. David Willey will bowl the first over.

199 to win… India know they need a good start here on this wicket… Haven’t really had a flier in this series despite the openers doing well in Ireland… well, you cannot really count that.

After 20 overs,England 198/9 ( Adil Rashid 4 , )

Mini comeback of sorts for India towards the end, however, 198 is a robust score from England. They kept losing the wickets after the first wicket fell in the 8th over, but one after the other English batsman carried on where one of their teammates left. It displays the depth in England’s batting and how much India missed couple of their senior bowlers. Still India’s batting prowess allows them to believe 199 is very much within reach. England will have to bowl well to clinch the series. Join us for the chase after a short break.

OUT! Wicket of the last ball. MS Dhoni with the bull’s eye! Rashid and Jordan tried to steal a bye of the last ball with Rashid not able to get bat on ball. MSD had removed the right glove earlier as he always does and then he hits the stumps to catch Jordan well short.

FOUR! Poor, very poor from Kaul. Full toss to the new man and even number 10 Adil Rashid won’t miss out. Runs it through the gap for a boundary to third man.

OUT! Catch number five for MS Dhoni! Sid Kaul with the wicket. Again it was full and outside off stump, Liam Plunkett moved across and changes his initial intention of paddling it on the onside to run it down on to third man, ends up edging it to MSD. How many times have we seen this happen today. England lose their 8th.

After 19 overs,England 191/7 ( Chris Jordan 2 , Liam Plunkett 7)

Into the 190s now England. The runs continue to bleed. Umesh Yadav ends with 48 against his name. Giving away 10 runs off the over.

Four catches for Dhoni in the innings… celebrating his birthday a day late but in style nevertheless… England have two overs to get to 200… they have managed to maintain 10/over through all the action…

SIX! Typical from Umesh. One yorker, followed by a hit-me delivery. New batsman Plunkett smacks the full toss over mid wicket for a six.

OUT! Full from Umesh. Willey yorks himself, was trying to squeeze it into the ground but gets an inside edge back on his stumps.

After 18 overs,England 181/6 ( David Willey 0 , )

Has been a tremendous comeback by Hardik Pandya. Was taken apart by Roy in his opening over. He finished with 38 off the 4 overs, giving just 16 runs off the previous 3 overs and claiming four wickets. England losing wickets, but the run rate hasn’t dipped one bit.

OUT! Hardik Pandya has his fourth wicket with the last ball of his spell. Full, quick and outside off. Bairstow was creating some room by taking the front leg out, chases the wide one, gets an to MS Dhoni.

FOUR! SHOT! Bairstow is in some insane mood. Struck it hard over covers, giving no chance for the fielder in the deep.

OUT! Stokes miscues another wild swing. Gets a thickish edge to Virat Kohli at long off. He was eyeing the mid wicket boundary but ended up miscuing it horribly.

c Kohli b Hardik Pandya 14(10)

After 17 overs,England 175/4 ( Ben Stokes 13 , Jonny Bairstow 20)

Couple of good full yorkers by Umesh Yadav but the damage had already been done off the first two deliveries costing 10 runs. Stokes got a boundary in between and England took 16 off it. India may well chase over 200.

FOUR! Stokes with the innovation. Moves across his stumps, makes the yorker a fulltoss and paddles it down to fine leg fence.

SIX! Bairstow making a case for an T20 specialist here. That’s one hell of a shot. Full and outside the off stump. Bairstow clears the front leg and just jabs it over cover boundary. Extraordinary hit!

FOUR! Poor from Umesh! A full toss down the leg side and all Bairstow had to do was nudge it away to fine leg to collect a boundary.

After 16 overs,England 159/4 ( Ben Stokes 9 , Jonny Bairstow 10)

Good comeback by Kaul after conceding four off the second ball of the over. Five singles on the remaining deliveries. He showcased his variations, but India still need couple of quiet overs, perhaps a wicket. how dearly do they miss Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar here.

FOUR! Kaul’s idea was right but Stokes has still managed to squeeze out four runs. Kaul’s slower ball was full and wide outside off stump, Stokes gets low and carves it behind point for a boundary.

After 15 overs,England 150/4 ( Ben Stokes 3 , Jonny Bairstow 7)

Chahar ends his spell with another expensive over. 10 runs off it. Chahar ends with figures of 43 off his quota with a wicket to his name. England well on course for 200

SIX! What.A.Shot! Full and on the leg stump, Bairstow stays leg-side and blasts it over mid wicket for massive six!

England have lost 4-46 in 37 balls…. a bit like Manchester albeit different still… if they are not careful though, they might end up with less than 200 which could be below par on this batting beauty disguised as a green top.

After 14 overs,England 140/4 ( Ben Stokes 0 , )

England despite losing wickets are going at a rapid rate and with few big-hitters yet to come. Pandya delivers a good over, claiming two wickets and eight runs.

OUT! Hales gone! Pandya bowls it in the good length outside off, Hales was trying to get cute and glide it past the keeper, instead gets an edge to MS Dhoni. Double-break for India.

SIX! Too many short balls. Hales was waiting for this one. Hangs back and pulls it over backward square leg for a huge six.

Some sort of voodoo on India today… Chahal misses a chance and bangs his head… Morgan obliges again and skies another, with Dhoni catching this time but runs over stumps but manages to stay up… hope he is not injured… has strong legs.

OUT! Morgan must be kicking himself. Dropped the previous ball, he goes after the short ball by Pandya again and skies it straight up. MS Dhoni with the big gloves calmly pouches it only to stumble on breaking the stumps at the striker’s end with his knee after taking the catch, but he holds on to it and wears a smile.

After 13 overs,England 132/2 ( Alex Hales 24 , Eoin Morgan (C) 4)

Bowled well in phases, Yuzvendra Chahal ends spell with couple of boundaries conceding 30 runs off his four overs.

FOUR! Straight down the ground this time. Hales has muscled this one for another boundary.

FOUR! Wonderful adjustment from Hales there. He was backing away on the onside upon which Chahal fired one full outside off stump and Hales strecths his arms and drills it to cover boundary.

After 12 overs,England 120/2 ( Alex Hales 13 , Eoin Morgan (C) 3)

Very good comeback over from Hardik Pandya, after conceding 22 off the first over, he has given just two singles. He even surprised Hales with a short ball hit him on the helmet. England are still going at 10 runs an over. Realistic chance of reaching to 200.

After 11 overs,England 118/2 ( Alex Hales 12 , Eoin Morgan (C) 2)

Despite the boundary off the last ball, the over was a good one for India. Chahal slowing things up, will require support from the other end. Morgan hasn’t looked very comfortable against spin.

A better over from Pandya… or maybe he just bowled to his set field this time… more cover on the leg side… and a sharp pointed bouncer at Alex Hales to wake him up from Sunday slumber… Run-rate has come down a tad, but still trading at 10/over, such was the hectic pace of Roy-Buttler.

FOUR! Tossed up by Chahal and Hales moves to the leg side to get outside the line of the ball, slog sweeps it for a boundary off the last ball.

After 10 overs,England 111/2 ( Alex Hales 7 , Eoin Morgan (C) 1)

At the halfway stage, England are looking in very strong position, courtesy to the blitz provided by their openers. Roy has returned to the pavilion after a resounding innings. Man of the match in the previous games Hales has taken over. Skipper Eoin Morgan joins in as Chahar completes his third over that included his first T20I wicket.

SIX! Hales doesn’t miss out on the free-hit. Stayed deep in the crease, expecting the yorker, taken on the full and clubbed it over wide long on.

“Thrown away a double hundred’ … overheard in the press box… might be a bit exaggerated but make no mistake that wicket is down to Roy. Short ball, bit of off-cutter, and closer to the body, and he tried to play it down to third man but only managed to edge it to Dhoni. Huge breakthrough for India…

OUT! Deepak Chahar has his first T20I wicket and that is of the dangerous Jason Roy. Tame end to what has been an explosive innings. Short ball angled into Roy, he was backing away and trying to ramp it through slips, gets a fine edge and wicket-keeper behind the stumps lunges forward to complete the catch.

Roy c Dhoni b Chahar 67(31)

SIX! Gone all the way! Length from Chahar asking to be hit and Roy launches it over wide long on for another maximum.

After 9 overs,England 97/1 ( Jason Roy 61 , Alex Hales 1)

Quiet over after quite some time. Exactly what a wicket does. Time for India to break the momentum and sustain pressure from both eds. Three singles off the over.

After 8 overs,England 94/1 ( Jason Roy 59 , Alex Hales 0)

India will be mighty please to see the back of Jos Buttler. Sid Kaul has the wicket. Was an expensive over, but a wicket will help them regroup. Alex Hales is in.

Timber… full balls hit, short balls hit… how do you bowl on this pitch? Just when you start thinking about it, Kaul has bowled Buttler with a fuller one which the batsman completely misses…. first wicket for India and they have the breakthrough…

OUT! You miss, I hit! Simple stuff. Straight. Full and wicket! Kaul celebrates as Buttler misses the delivery and India have their first wicket. Much-needed.

FOUR! Unlucky for Kaul! Buttler gets a top-edhge over MS Dhoni as the ball crosses the boundary ropes.

SIX! Another big one! Knuckle ball doesn’t come off. Roy seemed ready for it and he has absolutely crushed that delivery. It has travesed a long, long way.

After 7 overs,England 82/0 ( Jason Roy 52 , Jos Buttler (W) 29)

Roy races past his half-century. He is taking on the spinner as well. Chahal’s first over costs nine runs. England are going at almost 12 runs an over. India running short of ideas against this devastating opening pair.

India on for a beating today… dropped catch from Kaul, albeit he did well to reach to it after covering a lot of distance from midwicket… 

at the other end, Roy has a 23-ball fifty… 82-0 in 7 overs. And just as I type this… a six straight to the press box…

FIFTY! SIX! Roy brings up his half-century in style. He has just taken off in the last few overs. Takes the leg-spinner from outside off the stump and flat bats it over wide long on.

He is playing a fiery innings here. Laying the platform for England’s middle order.

DROPPED! Spinner comes into the attack and almost brings in a wicket. Buttler miscues the slog sweep, with the ball going straight up. Sid Kaul running in from deep mid wicket, cannot cling on.

After 6 overs,England 73/0 ( Jason Roy 45 , Jos Buttler (W) 27)

Roy the star of the last two overs as England take 22 off the last over of the powerplay with 21 coming off Roy’s bat. Hardik’s first over has been very costly.

SIX! Full by Pandya, but length on offer for Roy to loft it over the fence, but only just. Only a little out of long on fielder’s grasp and just over the fence as well. After two fours… Roy has struck two sixes!

SIX! That’s a maximum! Pandya not learning from the first two balls and Roy gleefully sends the ball over deep square leg.

FOUR! Hardik persists with his short stuff and it is the same result again. Roy likes the pace on the bat, uses it to pull it away.

FOUR! Roy gets on top of the short ball from Pandya and helps it to fine leg fence. One bounce into the fence

After 5 overs,England 51/0 ( Jason Roy 24 , Jos Buttler (W) 26)

Roy has caught with Buttler in terms of runs. This is fabulous batting by England openers, they have jet past 50 in the 5th over itself. Kaul’s first over goes for eight runs.

In terms of measurements, this is almost like Eden Park at Auckland… there, the straight boundary begins at the advert squares… here we have maybe 3m extra space… just! 

Square boundaries also nearly similar in oval shape… 8 fours and 2 sixes already and we are in the fifth over still… never mind the green top, this is going to be a boundary-hitting contest today.

SIX! Another stunning shot down the ground from Jason Roy! Cannot bowl him length.

Siddarth Kaul is brought into the attack

After 4 overs,England 43/0 ( Jason Roy 17 , Jos Buttler (W) 26)

Roy too getting into the act. Ominous signs for India. Kohli will be desperate for a wicket. The home side are galloping over 10 runs an over.

SIX! Excellent shot from Roy. Shimmies down the wicket and gives the ball good rap. Struck cleanly over wide long off.

Misfield from Pandya… don’t see that a lot… but it is such a short boundary that a misfield can go to the boundary… not the best start for India. The green top hasn’t been turned into good use… Buttler has made a flying start.

FOUR! Driven by Roy and poor fielding from Hardik Pandya! This was a regulation chance. Gone through the legs.

FOUR! Roy’s chance to get amongst the runs. Full ball and Roy drives it hard down the ground for a boundary.

After 3 overs,England 29/0 ( Jason Roy 3 , Jos Buttler (W) 26)

Much better second over for Deepak Chahar. The nerves must have settled now. Beat Buttler’s outside edge after he was pulled away for a boundary. Roy takes a single off the final ball. Six off it.

FOUR! Short of a length from Chahar and Buttler goes back in his crease to pull it into the gap of midwicket for another boundary.

After 2 overs,England 23/0 ( Jason Roy 2 , Jos Buttler (W) 21)

Umesh begins with a little beauty. An outswinger that beats the outside edge of Jason Roy, but it is Buttler who makes merry with back-to-back boundaries as he continues his aggressive approach. He will retain strike with a quick single off the final ball.

FOUR! Short from Umesh and Buttler is onto it quickly. Swivels and pulls it to backward square leg boundary. Two fours in a row.

FOUR! Buttler is in some mood here. Covered the stumps and went straight to the ball that was pitched up on the middle stump. Didn’t get it right from the center, but the placement was very good. Lofted it over the bowler for another boundary.

Umesh Yadav will bowl from the other end.

After 1 overs,England 13/0 ( Jason Roy 1 , Jos Buttler (W) 12)

Chahar begins with a full ball on Roy’s legs, searching for some movement, as the batsman flicks it to backward square leg for a single. A slip in place for Jos Buttler. Buttler strikes couple of consecutive boundaries putting the pressure on the debutant, before there is a stoppage in play due to the condition of the ball. Umpires do not like it and call for a change of ball, just after four deliveries. Another boundary, third of the over off the last ball to make it 13 runs off Chahar’s first T20I over. Not much Chahar could do there as the ball went off the inside half of Buttler’s bat.

FOUR! Finally Chahar gets some inward shape, but that has worked in the favour of the batsman. Buttler gets it from the inside half of the bat and with a lot of vacant spaces available the ball makes its way to square leg boundary. Unfortunate for Chahar.

After just four deliveries, Umpires have had a look at the ball and they do not seem happy as they call for a change of ball.

FOUR! Length on middle and leg from Chahar and Buttler simply stands firm and lofts it over mid on for a one-bounce boundary. Buttler is off and running!

FOUR! That has flown off Buttler’s bat.  Couple of steps down the ground and punches it uppishly in the gap through covers.

Virat Kohli says the final words before the start of the decider in the team huddle. Jason Roy and Jos Buttler amble across to the pitch. Debutant Deepak Chahar will take the new ball.

One change for England… Ben Stokes walks back into the side ahead of Joe Root… apparently, word is that this is a six hitting ground… so… do the math!

Green top pitch looks to have affected team changes for India…

So, confirmed then… Siddarth Kaul and Deepak Chahar to make debut… Bhuvi out possibly owing to stiff back because you won’t leave him out on this pitch. Chahar the interesting inclusion here ahead of Kuldeep Yadav… again it is a very green pitch.

England XI: Jason Roy, Jos Buttler(w), Alex Hales, Eoin Morgan(c), Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Liam Plunkett, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Jake Ball

Bright and sunny in Bristol… With a lot of green on the pitch… It’s very different from Manchester and Cardiff.

Deepak Chahar to make his debut.

India  XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli(c), Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w), Hardik Pandya, Deepak Chahar, Umesh Yadav, Siddarth Kaul, Yuzvendra Chahal

India make two changes to their side. Siddarth Kaul, Deepak Chahar are in. Kuldeep Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar make way.

For England Ben Stokes is in for Joe Root.

Toss: India win the toss in the decider and captain Virat Kohli has decided to field.

While it is a massive occasion for Deepak Chahar and his supporters, India is likely to miss the services of senior pro Bhuvneshwar Kumar. His experience, especially at the backend of the innings will be massive to fill up.

Big Day for the Chahar Family and entire Rajasthan.....state has another India player....wishing him loads of luck for the T20i debut. Go well, brother. #ENGvIND #Bristol

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 8, 2018

Always find it amusing to see the English find 30 degrees little to hot, Indians must be feeling at home.

Here it is. Debut cap for Deepak Chahar. Virat Kohli hands it over to the right arm quick. Bhuvi to miss out.

We have a debutant here in the third T20I against England. Deepak Chahar receives his #TeamIndia cap from Skipper @imVkohli.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/vRB1VNRRr0

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 8, 2018

NEWS ALERT: Ben Stokes might be drafted in England, while unconfirmed reports suggest Bhuvneshwar Kumar is out of the third T20I with stiff back.

What your thoughts on the pitch. We had a bit of grass covering in the previous game. Some more here? Will we see few changes in the team? 45 minutes away from the toss!

Take a look at the pitch for this decider game here at Bristol.

🤔?#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/JHaqSA85Ux

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 8, 2018

Ben Stokes might have returned to the squad for the series-deciding third T20I at Bristol, but the star all-rounder will not necessarily find it easy to get back into the side given the number of players who are performing well in the England setup. 

Read the full report here .

India and England are currently tied 1-1 in the three-match T20I series, and the finale at Bristol on Sunday is anybody’s for the taking. When teams similar in stature and talent take on each other, it is the captain’s execution of tactics that eventually decides the winner of the battle. 

Read the full preview of the 3rd T20I between India and England by Rajesh Tiwary here .

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s live coverage of the T20I series decider between England and India at Bristol in what promises to be an cracker of a Sunday fixture between the two highly-competitive sides.