Ben Duckett and Liam Livingstone starred as England kept themselves alive in the T20I series against India with a 26-run victory over the hosts in Rajkot on Tuesday in the third of the five games. (More Cricket News)

Chasing a target of 172, India lost wickets at regular intervals with only Hardik Pandya (40) offering some resistance against the tourists, for whom Jamie Overton finished with figures of 3-23. 

Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer also picked up two wickets each, while Adil Rashid (1-15), who got the wicket of Tilak Varma, also bowled economically. 

But it was the innings of Livingstone, who hit five sixes during his 43 from 24 balls, to take England from 127-8 in 16 overs to 171-9 that proved crucial as the tourists posted their first win of the tour. 

BY Outlook Sports Desk

Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy had returned figures of 5-24 after England opener Duckett struck 51 runs off 28 balls to give his side a quick start. 

The two teams will meet again in Pune on Friday with India leading the series 2-1. 

Adil Rashid finishes his spell4 overs1 wicket15 runs10 dot ballsA master at work pic.twitter.com/ZZwq3Ddkwn

Data Debrief: Tourists get much-needed win

“The final was really intense; the Chinese were breathing down our necks throughout the game and made it really difficult for us to create a clear goal scoring chance,” Harmanpreet said in a Hockey India release.

A defeat in Rajkot would have handed the series to India with two matches to spare, but England will now have momentum heading into the final two T20Is.

Tuesday's match was only the fourth time they recorded a win after batting first in 12 attempts since the 2022 T20 World Cup, and also their first win after four consecutive defeats to India in this format.

Leg-spinner Rashid became only the fifth England bowler to not concede a boundary in four overs of a T20I against India, joining Stuart Broad, Graeme Swannfalcon play, Moeen Ali and David Willey.