Reece Topley stars as England survive Suryakumar Yadav onslaught to beat India

• Full scoreboard

• England beat India by 17 runs in high-scoring thriller

• Malan's 77 from 39 balls powers England to 215/7

• India fall short despite Yadav's breathtaking 117

• Impressive Topley takes 3/22 on return to side

Nowhere in England does Twenty20 cricket as well as Trent Bridge, with its flat wicket, inviting boundaries and intimate crowd. After a run of two victories in nine T20s, a return here was just the tonic, as Dawid Malan led England to their highest T20 total in over two years, before England’s seamers closed out a fraught 17-run victory.

But to get there, England had to overcome an innings of outrageous skill from Suryakumar Yadav. After new-ball swing from Reece Topley and David Willey reduced India to 34-3 after the Powerplay, Yadav played a dazzling array of shots, perhaps the most extraordinary being a lofted square drive for six off a 90mph delivery on his legs from Chris Jordan. This was an innings of beauty more than brutality, defined by clinical precision in identifying his targets: Yadav looted 42 from 16 balls against England’s spinners, Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone.

In the vein of the consummate modern anchor players, Yadav consolidated with alacrity, taking 32 balls to reach his half-century. He then accelerated stunningly, taking just another 16 balls until steering David Willey’s low full toss behind point to reach his maiden international century in any format. Yadav’s qualities have been known for years, and have flowered in the last five seasons of the Indian Premier League. Aged 31, this 117 could be the catalyst for him to now enjoy the international career his talents deserve.

“That was so, so unique,” gushed Topley. “They were some special shots, I don't know how they're played.”

That Yadav’s century was not enough owed largely to a commendable performance from England’s seamers. Defending 21 from the final over, albeit with India already seven wickets down, Chris Jordan conceded just three, ending a terrific personal series with a yorker that uprooted Ravi Bishnoi’s off stump.

Before, England were indebted to Topley, who produced comfortably the best performance from any of the four left-arm quicks used by England this series, bowling into the pitch and moving the new ball. He was as impressive with the old ball, ending Yadav’s 119-run fourth wicket partnership with Shreyas Iyer by following the batsman as he backed away. Topley’s immediate reward was 3-22 and the player-of-the-match award; it could be the prelude to establishing himself as England’s first-choice left-armer.

“Almost a skill in itself, as much as bowling slower balls and whatever, it's about keeping your head and not getting wrapped up in everything,” Topley said. “The batters came off and said that changes of pace into the middle of the wicket were the hardest to face,” he explained.

And so England just about managed to withstand the brutal targeting of Moeen and Livingstone. On one of the most unforgiving grounds for spinners in T20, the pair leaked a combined 67 from their four overs, reaffirming the indispensability of Adil Rashid. Defending 41 from the final two overs, Moeen conceded 16 runs - two fours and a six to Yadav, in between a pair of wides - from his first three balls before Yadav mistimed a wider ball and was caught at long off.

If no one quite matched Yadav’s batting for England, Malan picked an opportune moment to hit his first T20 international half-century in 11 innings. After toiling over 19 from 24 balls at Edgbaston a day earlier, Malan relished the short square boundaries and an attack which, with a combination of high pace that he thrives against and spinners turning the ball into him, was to his liking. He was ruthless in exploiting India’s lack of flexibility in their bowling, thrashing 28 from 11 balls against Ravindra Jadeja’s left-arm spin, and returned Umran Malik’s express pace with interest.

England’s determination to be more adventurous was shown at the toss, when Jos Buttler revealed a new balance to the side - the same one, indeed, advocated by Eoin Morgan in his role as commentator. An extra batsman, Phil Salt, was included, even if number four is not the best use of Salt: normally an opener, batting lower down the order would allow him to showcase his prowess hitting pace. But that role was filled by both Livingstone and, more briefly, Harry Brook. When Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow return, one of Malan or Brook face being squeezed out of the T20 side: a measure of England’s batting strength, even if they have only showcased it intermittently in recent months.

England vs India, third T20 as it happened

06:39 PM

Rohit Sharma's verdict

06:36 PM

Jos Buttler's verdict

06:33 PM

The player of the match is Reece Topley

06:16 PM

ENGLAND WIN BY 17 RUNS

It was the orgy of runs that we expected: 413 in 40 overs, with a whopping 23 sixes. England won the game but in time it will be remembered for a spectacular 117 from Suryakumar Yadav.

Reece Topley also had an outstanding game, taking 3/22 on a day when most of the bowlers went the distance.

06:15 PM

OVER 20: IND 198/9 (Avesh 1)

Jordan yorks Bishnoi with the last ball of the match, and a thrilling game ends in a consolation victory for England, with India taking the series 2-1. ENGLAND WIN BY 17 RUNS

06:13 PM

Wicket!!!

Patel c Gleeson b Jordan 5 Patel laps Jordan to short fine leg, and England are home and hosed. Two balls to go. FOW 196/8

06:12 PM

OVER 19.3: IND 196/7 (Patel 5 Avesh 1)

Another dot ball. India need snookers.

06:11 PM

OVER 19.2: IND 196/7 (Patel 5 Avesh 1)

Patel turns down a single - he's decided it's all on him. India need 20 from four balls.

06:10 PM

OVER 19.1: IND 196/7 (Patel 5 Avesh 1)

England have bowled their overs too slowly, so they need to have an extra man inside the circle for the last over.

Chris Jordan will bowl it, and he starts with an excellent yorker that Avesh clunks for a single. India need 20 off five balls.

06:09 PM

OVER 19: IND 195/7 (Patel 5 Avesh 0)

Patel slugs Moeen over square leg for four. India need 21 from the last over.

06:08 PM

Wicket!!!!

Yadav c Salt b Ali 117 Suryakumar Yadav's astonishing innings comes to an end! After hitting 16 earlier in Moeen Ali's over, he clunked a wide delivery to Salt at long-off. It was a really good catch too.

It's been the most brilliant innings, and the bald statistics - 117 from 55 balls - don't do justice to the style, imagination and audacity of his strokeplay. FOW 191/7

06:03 PM

OVER 18: IND 175/6 (Yadav 103 Patel 1)

Yadav has been starved of the strike and faces only one delivery, the last of Gleeson's over. He takes a single to keep the strike, and Gleeson finishes a good day's work with figures of 4-0-31-1. India need 41 from 12 balls.

05:59 PM

Wicket!!!

Jadeja LBW b Gleeson 7 Buttler continues to postpone that last over of spin, with Gleeson returning to the attack.

Jadeja drives a straight six but is out next ball, plumb LBW to a yorker. India need 43 from 15 balls. FOW 173/6

05:55 PM

OVER 17: IND 167/5 (Yadav 102 Jadeja 1)

For a dead rubber, this is pretty darned tense. India need 49 from 18 balls.

05:54 PM

Wicket!!!!

Karthik LBW b Willey 6 

Yadav steers a full toss for four to reach a stunning hundred, his first in any form of T20 cricket: 48 balls, five sixes and 11 fours. Some of the shots have been breathtaking.

Later in the over there's a successful LBW review against Karthik. It felt like an afterthought from England - but replays showed the ball pitched in line and was hitting the stumps! FOW 166/5

05:48 PM

OVER 16: IND 155/4 (Yadav 97 Karthik 1)

The new batter Dinesh Karthik is beaten by his first two deliveries and can't score off the third either. This might be a matchwinning over. Eventually Karthik steers a single off the penultimate ball, and the brilliant Yadav pings a boundary over backward point.

Just five from the over, even with that boundary. Topley has had a storming game and ends with figures of 4-0-22-3. India need 61 from 24 balls.

05:43 PM

Wicket!!!

Iyer c Buttler b Topley 28 Not the wicket England really wanted, but they'll take it. Topley sees Iyer back away and follows him with a short ball that brushes either bat or glove on its way through to Buttler. Terrific bowling, Topley's third wicket. FOW 150/4

05:42 PM

OVER 15: IND 150/3 (Yadav 93 Iyer 28)

Jos Buttler turns to his main man, Chris Jordan, in an attempt to restore some order.

Yeah, good luck with that. Suryakumar Yadav is batting like a dream. He walks across to sweep a yorker for four, drives the next ball over extra cover and ends the over with an incredible lofted square drive for six!

Yadav has 93 from 46 balls, and India need 66 from 30. They're now favourites.

05:35 PM

OVER 14: IND 132/3 (Yadav 78 Iyer 26)

An astonishing shot from Suryakumar Yadav, who opens the face to chip Gleeson over third man for six!

Later in the over he lifts a slower ball straight over the keeper's head for four more. This has been a breathtaking innings, full of imagination and chutzpah.

India are right in this: they need 84 from 36 balls. And there's still at least one over of spin to be bowled.

05:30 PM

OVER 13: IND 117/3 (Yadav 65 Iyer 24)

India know England need to bowl four overs of spin, and by heck are they targeting them: Livingstone's second over has disappeared for 21!

Yadav sweeps the first ball for six, then Iyer launches a humongous blow over midwicket for six more. A flustered Livingstone bowls a no-ball, which means a free hit - and Yadav pounds it into the crowd at long-on!

A highly eventful over concludes with a stumping referral against Yadav, who was beaten by a jaffa but didn't overstep.

05:24 PM

OVER 12: IND 96/3 (Yadav 52 Iyer 17)

Jos Buttler has decided he can't risk either spinner for more than one over while Yadav is at the crease, so Reece Topley is coming back.

Yadav pushes a single to reach a swaggering half-century from 32 balls. Topley does really well, though, keeping India down to five singles from the over. He has admirable figures of 3-0-17-2.

05:20 PM

OVER 11: IND 91/3 (Yadav 49 Iyer 15)

Chris Jordan returns to the attack. It's all the same to Yadav, who drives another beautiful boundary down the ground before adopting a frankly indescribable pose. Nine from the over.

05:13 PM

OVER 10: IND 82/3 (Yadav 41 Iyer 14)

Spin at both ends, Moeen Ali this time. His third ball is a full toss that Iyer dumps over Willey at deep midwicket for six. Willey was following the ball, high above his head, and tripped over the boundary sponge. "You get a yellow card for that," deadpans Stuart Broad on Sky Sports.

The six aside, it's a reasonably effective over from Moeen, and England are still just about in control of the game. India need 134 from the last 10 overs.

05:08 PM

OVER 9: IND 71/3 (Yadav 40 Iyer 5)

The first bit of spin, with Liam Livingstone into the attack. Suryakumar Yadav is after him straight away, hitting three of the first four balls for four in an over that yields 15.

It's thrilling batting, and while Yadav's at the crease India will have a chance of an unlikely victory.

05:04 PM

OVER 8: IND 56/3 (Yadav 26 Iyer 5)

Chris Jordan comes into the attack and is greeted with a spectacular drive over extra cover by Yadav, standing tall as he punches the ball to the boundary. He plays some delightful strokes.

Seven from the over, which is not enough for India. They need 160 from 72 balls.

04:59 PM

OVER 7: IND 49/3 (Yadav 20 Iyer 4)

Yadav laps Willey for six, a shot of outrageous brilliance. It's hard to believe he did not play international cricket until his thirties, such is his natural talent.

A good over for India, 15 from it.

04:54 PM

OVER 6: IND 34/3 (Yadav 8 Iyer 1)

Yadav is beaten for pace by Gleeson, who hurries through another inexpensive over. England are all over India, and the required run-rate is now pushing 13.

04:50 PM

OVER 5: IND 31/3 (Yadav 7)

This is going eerily well for England.

04:49 PM

Wicket!!!

Rohit c Salt b Topley 11

Rohit drives Topley over extra cover for four, a typically regal stroke, and then plays a ridiculous one-handed flip over short fine leg. That's an outrageous shot, and Rohit breaks into a smile as he walks down the pitch to chat to Yadav.

He's not smiling when, two  balls later, he clonks a slower ball straight to deep midwicket. Clever bowling from Topley, and England are well on top. FOW 31/3

04:44 PM

OVER 4: IND 20/2 (Rohit 2 Yadav 6)

Richard Gleeson replaces Reece Topley and immediately hits the same good length that served him so well yesterday.

Suryakumar Yadav is beaten outside off by a bit of extra bounce, but when Gleeson tries a yorker it's put away through the covers for four. Good shot.

04:41 PM

OVER 3: IND 14/2 (Rohit 1 Yadav 1)

The left-armers have had a difficult time in this series, but so far it's going perfectly for David Willey and Reece Topley.

04:39 PM

Wicket!!!

Kohli c Roy b Willey 11 The ball after check-driving a stunning straight six, Virat Kohli has gone! He charged Willey and slammed a short ball straight to extra cover, where Jason Roy took a sharp two-handed catch. That's a huge wicket for England because Kohli looked in the mood. FOW 13/2

04:33 PM

OVER 2: IND 3/1 (Rohit 1 Kohli 1)

Rohit mistimes a pull off Topley and breaks his bat in the process. This is a dream start for England, and the required run-rate is already pushing 12 an over.

04:30 PM

Wicket!!!

Pant c Buttler b Topley 1 Reece Topley strikes first ball! Pant has a mow across the line, is caught by Jos Buttler via the pad and given out either LBW or caught behind. Nobody seems to know which - least of all Pant, who tries to review but is out of time.

Eventually the plot thins - Pant definitely inside-edged the ball onto his pads, after which it deflected into the gloves of Buttler.

FOW 2/1

04:28 PM

OVER 1: IND 2/0 (Rohit 1 Pant 1)

Some early swing for Willey, who shapes a beauty past Pant's outside edge. The Indian batters play him respectfully as a consequence. A terrific first over, only two from it.

04:25 PM

Here come the players

David Willey will bowl the first over.

04:15 PM

Change of innings

England's total feels around par, maybe slightly over. Slower balls were India's best friend, and the effectiveness of England's may decide this game.

04:13 PM

OVER 20: ENG 215/7 (Livingstone 42)

The last over, bowled by Umran Malik, goes for 17. But it's Jordan, not Livingstone, who does the damage. He inside-edges his first ball for four before lifting the second over extra cover for six. Jordan is run out off the last ball, looking for a second, but that's another useful cameo. Jordan run out 11; FOW 215/7

04:07 PM

OVER 19: ENG 198/6 (Livingstone 38 Jordan 0)

The impressive Harshal Patel ends with figures of 4-0-35-2.

04:06 PM

Wicket!!!

Brook c Bishnoi b Patel 19 Livingstone is dropped by Kohli, a relatively straightforward chance at deep midwicket. He misjudged the flight and almost ran past the ball.

Brook falls later in the over, hoicking Patel towards Bishnoi at deep square leg. That was a selfless cameo from Brook, 19 from 9 balls. FOW 197/6

03:57 PM

OVER 18: ENG 190/5 (Livingstone 36 Brook 13)

Harry Brook hits his first two balls, from Avesh Khan, for four. The first was a crisp pull, the second an ingenious reverse flick to third man off a no-ball.

He's caught at deep midwicket off the resulting free hit, and is able to get back for two runs.

Livingstone turns a good over into a huge one - 21 from it - by driving over extra cover for six.

03:56 PM

OVER 17: ENG 169/5 (Livingstone 30 Brook 0)

A gem of a final over from Bishnoi - two runs, two wickets, and he ends with figures of 4-0-30-2. In such a high-scoring game, that's an admirable performance.

03:55 PM

Wicket!!!

Ali c sub b Bishnoi 0 Moeen Ali goes first ball, slicing a googly high to short third man. This is outstanding stuff from Ravi Bishnoi. FOW 169/5

03:53 PM

Wicket!!!

Malan c Pant b Bishnoi 77 Malan slogs the legspinner Bishnoi miles in the air, and Rishabh Pant takes a comfortable catch. That was a terrific innings from Malan: 39 balls, six fours and five sixes. FOW 168/4

03:48 PM

OVER 16: ENG 167/3 (Malan 77 Livingstone 29)

For once Harshal gets his length wrong, and Livingstone helps a full toss round the corner for six. His hand speed is awesome.

The next ball is almost identical, only Livingstone swings it even farther into the crowd. Fifteen from the over, and England are on course for 200+.

03:44 PM

OVER 15: ENG 152/3 (Malan 77 Livingstone 15)

Malan smashes Jadeja back over his head for another six, the fifth of his innings. In fact, he's hit 50 off his last 18 balls.

Livingstone isn't finding it quite as easy - he is beaten by consecutive deliveries, and Jadeja ends his spell with figures of 4-0-45-0. Malan was responsible for the majority of the 45.

03:40 PM

OVER 14: ENG 142/3 (Malan 70 Livingstone 13)

Avesh Khan's first ball is monstered over midwicket by Livingstone, another comical, fast-handed six for his showreel.

Later in the over Malan slices high over short third man, with the ball landing safely, and then pings a low full toss over the man at long on for six more!

Seventeen from the over, and Malan has raced to 70 from 35 balls.

03:34 PM

OVER 13: ENG 125/3 (Malan 62 Livingstone 4)

Malan drives Malik for two to reach a classy half-century from 30 balls, and celebrates by taking 10 off the next deliveries.

A short ball was clouted over mid-on for four, and then he drove handsomely over extra cover for six. Malik is fun to watch but he has also been expensive: 3-0-40-1.

03:30 PM

OVER 12: ENG 111/3 (Malan 49 Livingstone 3)

Malan pumps Jadeja's first two balls for 10, launching the second over square leg for six. But Jadeja pulls it back really well after that, with only three from the last four deliveries.

03:24 PM

OVER 11: ENG 98/3 (Malan 37 Livingstone 2)

Malan is beaten by consecutive wrong'uns from Bishnoi. He's had enough of that game, so he walks a long way across his stumps to lift a boundary over short fine leg.

It's a no-ball, too, which means a free hit. Malan can only drag it into the leg side for a single.

03:21 PM

OVER 10: ENG 86/3 (Malan 27 Livingstone 1)

India are probably on top at the halfway mark, though England do bat deep today.

03:17 PM

Wicket!!!

Salt b Patel 8 Goddim! Harshal Patel cleans Salt up with a beautiful delivery - a slower yorker that dips under Salt's bat and crashes into the base of off stump. Brilliant bowling. FOW 84/3

03:15 PM

OVER 9: ENG 82/2 (Malan 25 Salt 7)

Despite a recent regression towards the mean, Malan is still averaging over 40 in T20Is, which is unique among England batters.

He slog-sweeps Jadeja for a big six and then slashes just short of backward point. Eleven from the over.

03:10 PM

OVER 8: ENG 71/2 (Malan 16 Salt 5) 

Phil Salt drives his first ball whence it came for four, a shot brimming with style and confidence. Then Malan, who looks much more comfortable against pace, pulls a short ball emphatically in front of square for four more. It's high-octane stuff.

03:06 PM

Wicket!!!

Roy c Pant b Malik 27 Umran Malik strikes! Roy threw everything at his first ball, back of a length outside off stump, but was beaten for pace and could only edge it through to Pant.  FOW 61/2

03:04 PM

OVER 7: ENG 61/1 (Roy 27 Malan 12) 

The consensus in the commentary box is that England should be aiming for at least 200.

Bishnoi returns to the attack and is cracked for four by Malan, despite a good effort on the boundary from the sprawling Kohli.

Roy survives a big LBW appeal after missing a slog-sweep at a googly. Rohit decides not to review, and replays confirm it was outside the line. There's a run-out referral off the next ball, with Malan scrambling to get home.

02:59 PM

OVER 6: ENG 52/1 (Roy 23 Malan 7) 

Malan is dropped by Harshal Patel off his own bowling. It was a slower ball that duped Malan, but Harshal couldn't hold onto a sharp return catch. India are bowling a lot of slower balls, with a fair bit of success - Buttler was out to one and Malan should have been.

Later in the over, Malan is done by another cutter and drives uppishly between short extra and mid-off.

02:51 PM

OVER 5: ENG 43/1 (Roy 21 Malan 0)   

Ravindra Jadeja replaces Bishnoi. His first ball, a routine delivery, is chipped nonchalantly down the ground for six by Roy. Shot!

They can't find the ball, so there's a delay while a new one is sourced. Roy has a look and then muscles another boundary through mid-on. After a scratchy start, he's into his work.

02:49 PM

OVER 4: ENG 32/1 (Roy 10 Malan 0)   

Avesh Khan looks a canny bowler, and he has started really well here: 2-0-6-1.

02:47 PM

Wicket!!

Buttler b Khan 18 Avesh Khan takes the big wicket! Jos Buttler, who was looking really dangerous, drags a slower ball back onto the stumps to complete a disappointing series - 18 from nine balls today, and 22 runs in three games. FOW 31/1

02:44 PM

OVER 3: ENG 27/0 (Roy 10 Buttler 15)   

Ravi Bishnoi, a brisk legspinner, is into the attack already. His first ball skids past the outside edge of Jason Roy, who can struggle against spin in the Powerplay.

Or not: after a few dot balls, Roy swings Bishnoi's last delivery handsomely over midwicket for six. England are off to a flyer.

02:40 PM

OVER 2: ENG 19/0 (Roy 3 Buttler 14)   

Umran Malik, whose top pace is close to 100mph, shares the new ball - and goes for 17 in his first over.

Jos Buttler is after him straight away, carting the first ball square on the off side for four. Malik beats Buttler outside off stump but then bowls a length ball that is launched imperiously to cow corner for six.

Buttler, who has started with intent, ends the over with a pristine extra cover drive for four.

02:34 PM

OVER 1: ENG 2/0 (Roy 2 Buttler 0)   

Avesh Khan, a tall, bustling seamer, takes the first over. It's a nervous start from Jason Roy - he chips just short of midwicket, gets off the mark with a swat for two and then misses a swipe on the run.

02:27 PM

Let us flay

Jason Roy and Jos Buttler stride into the middle, doubtless relieved that they won't have to face Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah. It's time for the action.

02:20 PM

The joy of six

Expect a high-scoring game today: the pitch looks a belter, and the dimensions of Trent Bridge are conducive to six-hitting. The weather is also glorious.

"If I was a batter in the England dressing-room and I'd been short of runs," begins Eoin Morgan on Sky Sports, making sure to use the past tense, "I'd be looking forward to this game like an 11-year-old on a Saturday morning."

02:07 PM

The teams

England  Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (c/wk), Dawid Malan, Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, David Willey, Chris Jordan, Reece Topley, Richard Gleeson.

India Rohit Sharma (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Umran Malik, Ravi Bishnoi.

02:05 PM

Umran Malik starts for India

The fast bowler Umran Malik, who is seriously quick, is one of four changes in the India side.

Shreyas Iyer, Avesh Khan and Ravi Bishnoi also come into the side, with Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal rested.

02:04 PM

Two changes for England

Phil Salt and Reece Topley replace Sam Curran and Matt Parkinson.

02:02 PM

England have won the toss

And will bat first. That's a change of policy for them.

01:49 PM

Salt to start for England?

England could certainly do with an extra hitter in the middle order, though that will put more pressure on a fragile bowling attack.

01:45 PM

Kumar's threat

If England are to win today, they will need to find a way to deal with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose brilliant opening spells undermined their runchases in the first two matches.

He has swung the white ball menacingly, and across the two games has combined figures of 6-1-25-4. Crucially - really, really crucially - he dismissed Jos Buttler cheaply at the Ageas Bowl and Edgbaston.

While it hasn't been great for England, it has been a pleasure to see an artist at work. When a man is tired of watching swing bowling, he is tired of life.

01:32 PM

The rise of Richard Gleeson

Richard Gleeson has a debut to remember yesterday – he took 3/15 in four overs, and the three were Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant.

Gleeson’s story is a triumph of the human spirit. He didn’t play white-ball cricket at county level until he was 28, and at 34 became one of the older England debutants of the modern era. He might also be the first England cricketer to have had a job cleaning maggots.

A couple of years ago, when he was first called up to the England squad, he spoke to Nick Hoult about his unusual route to the top.

12:56 PM

Good afternoon...

...and welcome to live coverage of the third and final T20I between England and India at Trent Bridge. This series hasn’t gone to plan for England, who suffered two similar defeats – in style and margin – at the Ageas Bowl and Edgbaston. India clinched the series yesterday, which means this game is essentially a dead rubber. That’s nothing new for England, but it is unusual for them to be on this side of the fence.

The last time England suffered a white-ball whitewash in a series of at least three games was in Australia in 2013-14, and nobody really cared then because we were still traumatised by the preceding Ashes series. This would raise more alarms, especially with the World Cup only four months away.

In truth, even if they are pummelled by 48 runs today, we shouldn’t overreact. T20 is one of the most volatile sporting formats around, and no team is immune to failure. England are also without five or six of their best XI, and the new management team of Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott haven’t had chance to get their feet under the table. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things for England to think about. The middle order has been more of a muddle order, with Liam Livingstone arguably too high at No4 and Moeen Ali too low at No6, and they might also benefit from including an extra batsman in Phil Salt.

The bowling, Richard Gleeson and Chris Jordan aside, has looked uncomfortably hittable. Left-arm seamers are a precious jewel in T20 cricket, and England have plenty – but none of Sam Curran, David Willey, Tymal Mills and Reece Topley have nailed down a place in the World Cup squad, never mind the best XI. Today is another chance for (some of) them to impress.

We’ll have the team news and toss at 2pm local time, with the match starting at 2.30pm.