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Patna : India scored a competitive 156/6 in 20 overs in 3rd T20I against England at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on March 16, 2021, night, as captain Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 77 in 46 balls hitting 8 fours and 4 sixes, his back to back fifties, in an explosive knock. Kohli and all-rounder Hardik Pandya added 70 runs in only 33 balls for the 6th wicket, India’s highest 6th wicket stand. Kohli’s was a terrific innings. England won the toss and opted to bowl.
India were struggling at 87/5 after 15 overs but Kohli counterattacked England fast bowler Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Chris JOrdan hitting them for fours and sixes almost at will. He hit fast bowler Mark Wood for 2 sixes and a four on successive balls in his 4th over, the 18th of the innings. Kohli had also hit Chris Jordan for a six and a four in his 3rd over, the 17th of the innings. He also hit fast bowler Jofra Archer for a four and a six in his 3rd over, the 16th of the innings. Hardik Pandya fell to Chris Jordan for 17 in 15 balls hitting 2 sixes on the last ball of the 20th over. Kohli had scored an unbeaten 73 in 49 balls in 2nd T20I.
Batting first, India made a terrible start losing the wickets of openers :Lokesh Rahul (zero) an Rohit Sharma (15), and Ishan Kishan (4), with only 24 runs on Board. Rishabh Pant(wk) was run out for 25 with 3 fours due to Kohli’s call for a third run and it 64/4 after 11.1 overs. Shreyas Iyer fell to Mark Wood for 9 and it was 86/5 after 14.3 overs. For Lokesh Rahul, it was his second zero in successive matches afteer 1 run in 1st T20I.
Chasing a target of 157 runs, England were 16/0 after 3 overs.