England seal first T20 series victory over India

England clinched their first-ever T20 series victory over India with a nine-wicket win in the fourth match of the five‑match series at Bristol. India were limited to 158 for seven in their allotted 20 overs. Shreyas Iyer top‑scored with an unbeaten 80 off 49 balls, while Jofra Archer claimed figures of 2 for 20. In reply, England reached the target of 159 for the loss of just one wicket in 13.5 overs. Harry Brook remained not out on 79 from 35 deliveries, and Phil Salt finished on 59 not out from 42 balls. Arshdeep Singh was the only England bowler to take a wicket, finishing with 1 for 41. The victory gives England an unassailable 3‑0 lead in the series, with the opening fixture at Chester‑le‑Street having been washed out. India’s loss marks their fifth consecutive defeat in T20 internationals, following two surprise reverses to Ireland before the series began. Shreyas Iyer, who assumed the T20 captaincy in early June, played a valiant innings but received little support from the rest of the batting line‑up. India’s top order repeatedly lofted shots into the hands of England fielders. Fifteen‑year‑old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the first to fall, caught by Sam Curran off a delivery from Jofra Archer. Shivam Dube added 22 off 23 balls, sharing a 53‑run fourth‑wicket stand with Iyer before being run out involving a throw from Will Jacks to Tom Banton at long‑on. Archer sealed the India innings with a sharp piece of fieldwork, kicking the ball onto the stumps to run out Axar Patel from the non‑striker’s end. The series will conclude at Southampton on Saturday at 14:30 BST, where back‑to‑back T20 World Cup champions India will aim to avoid a first‑ever whitewash in a five‑match T20 series.