Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer shine before rain forces no result

Half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, and a brisk 42 not out off 21 by Shivam Dube stood out in a weather-hit opening T20I in Chester-le-Street that ultimately yielded no result.

India managed 189 for 7 after opting to bat, with Abhishek blasting 59 off 24 and Shreyas making a composed 68 off 47. Showers intensified during the innings break and never relented, preventing England's chase.

A quiet start saw Sanju Samson fall for a seven-ball 1, slicing to backward point off Saqib Mahmood in the second over. A mix-up resulted in the run-out of Ishan Kishan for a duck.

Abhishek hit a four over cover in the opening over off Luke Wood, then struck the first six off Liam Dawson. He pulled Mahmood for a four and two sixes, with Shreyas also getting his first boundary in a 21-run over. A hat-trick of fours for Abhishek off Wood followed, and India accelerated from 15 for 2 after three overs to 61 for 2 after six.

Abhishek raced to a 20-ball fifty, the quickest for India against England in T20Is. He fell lbw to a leg-cutter from Sam Curran after England successfully reviewed.

Only five came in Curran's over while Dawson conceded seven as India moved to 99 for 3 after 10 overs. Tilak Varma fell to Mahmood trying a scoop for a run-a-ball 13. Shreyas reached his first fifty as T20I captain, with India at 135 for 4 after 15 overs.

The 16th over yielded 14 runs as Shivam Dube got a boundary and Shreyas carved a six over cover. Dube launched Rashid for a straight six. Shreyas fell lbw to Mahmood. Dube struck a six off Rashid but Harshit Rana was stumped in the same over.

Dube was dropped by Buttler off Curran in the last over. He pulled Curran for a six as India finished just short of 190, even as covers came on during the break.

Phil Salt jarred his shoulder stopping a boundary and left the field for the final 15 overs of India's innings. The cut-off time for a reduced-overs contest passed with no improvement in conditions, and umpires called off the match.

Brief scores: India 189/7 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 59 off 24, Shreyas Iyer 68 off 47, Shivam Dube 42* off 21; Saqib Mahmood 3-33) vs England – No result.