England’s miserable World Cup campaign slumped further as they collapsed to a 100-run defeat by hosts India in Lucknow.
Chasing 230 on a tricky pitch, the defending champions were bowled out for 129 amid raucous home support in their latest batting capitulation.
It is their fourth defeat in succession in India and their fifth overall – the first time they have lost five times at a World Cup.
After a steady start, Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Dawid Malan and Joe Root in consecutive deliveries to ignite the crowd and spark a horrible collapse of four wickets for nine runs in 27 balls. All 10 wickets went for just 99 runs.
Ben Stokes, like Root, was out for a duck.
He struggled for nine balls before being bowled playing an ugly slog to Mohammed Shami, who also knocked over Jonny Bairstow for 14 via an inside edge.
England had earlier been much improved with the ball in keeping to India to a score that looked just below par.
Rohit Sharma scored a composed 87 from 101 but David Willey’s 3-45, including Virat Kohli for nought, kept India’s star-studded batting line-up in check.
The results send the unbeaten hosts back to the top of the table. They have also all but secured a semi-final spot.
England, meanwhile, are bottom and while they are still not mathematically out of the competition it is a matter of when not if.
Only the top seven teams at this tournament will join hosts Pakistan in the Champions Trophy in 2025 so England have work to do.
