England pacers delivered when it mattered to beat India by 26 runs in the third T20I in Rajkot to keep the series alive. India lead the five-match series 2-1, but will have to do some soul-searching after failing to chase down a target of 172.

Hardik Pandya's 35-ball 40 was the highest score by an Indian, while the rest of the top order failed to capitalise on decent starts; Abhishek Sharma fell for 24, captain Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for 14 and Adil Rashid clean-bowled Tilak Varma for 18.

Jamie Overton bagged three wickets, while Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse claimed two each. Archer removed Sanju Samson for the third time this series, yet again with his pace.

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Indian players celebrate the wicket of England's Phil Salt during the third T20I at Rajkot on Tuesday. Photo: PTI

Earlier, after Suryakumar won the toss, the brilliant Varun Chakravarthy bagged a fifer to restrict England to 171/9.

Ben Duckett's quick-fire fifty (51 off 28) gave the visitors their best start in the series. But once the opener and his skipper, Jos Buttler (24), were removed, England collapsed.

Leg spinner Chakravarthy, who troubled England in Kolkata (3/23) and Chennai (2/38), continued to torment them with his best returns (5/24) in the series. He removed the versatile Carse and Archer in one over.

Liam Livingstone, who managed to keep the English score ticking at one end even as his teammates fell like a pack of cards, eventually lost his wicket to Pandya after an impressive 43 off 24. The fourth match of the series will be played in Pune on January 31.

Brief scores: England 171/9 in 20 overs (Ben Duckett 51, Liam Livingstone 43, Jos Buttler 24, Varun Chakravarthy 5/24, Hardik Pandya 2/33) bt India 145/9 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 40, Abhishek Sharma 24, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse 2/28, Jofra Archer 2/33)

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